THE SOUL OF MELICENT
OTHER BOOKS BY MR. CABELL
The Eagle's Shadow
Gallantry
The Line of Love
Chivalry
The Cords of Vanity
Branchiana
Branch of Abingdon
:iDemetrios wrenched the sword from its scabbard"
THE SOUL OF
MELICENT
BY
JAMES BRANCH CABELL
ILLUSTRATED IN COLOUR BY
HOWARD PYLE
NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, igij, by
Frederick A. Stokes Company
Copyright, 7Qo8, IQU, by
Harper and Brothers
All rights reserved
September, IQIJ
©CI.A351680
TO
SARAH READ McADAMS
IN GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION
a
how, through Woman-Worship, knaves compound
With honour e; Kings reck not of their domaine;
Proud Pontiffs sigh; & War-men world-renownd,
Toe win one Woman, all things else disdaine;
Since Melicent doth in herself e contayne
All this worlds Riches that may fane be found:
If Saphyres, he, her eies be Saphyres plaine;
If Rubies, loe, hir lips be Rubyes sound;
If Pearles, hir teeth be Pearles, both pure & round;
If Yvorie, her forehead Yvory weene;
If Gold, her locks with finest Gold abound;
If Silver, her faire hands have Silvers sheen:
Yet that which fayrest is, but Few beholde,
Her Soul adornd with vertues manifold"
CONTENTS
PART I
PERION
CHAPTER PAGE
I How Perion was Unmasked .... 3
II How the Vicomte was Very Gay . . 11
III How Melicent Wooed Perion .... 14
IV How Perion Broke Faith with Melusine 23
V How the Bishop Aided Perion ... 25
VI How Melicent Wedded Perion . 33
PART II
MELICENT
I How Melicent Sought Perion Oversea
II How Melicent Bargained .
III How Perion was Freed ....
IV How Demetrios was Amused .
V How the Time Sped in Heathenry
VI How Flamberge was Drawn
VII How Ahasuerus was Patient .
VIII How Demetrios Wooed ....
4i
45
5i
54
59
62
67
70
CONTENTS
PART III
DEMETRIOS
CHAPTER PAGE
I How Demetrios was Taken . . . . jj
II How They Praised Melicent .... 82
III How Perion Braved Theodoret ... 87
IV How Perion Fought in Sannazaro . . 97
V How Demetrios Meditated 105
\VI How a Minstrel Came to San Alessandro 109
VII How They Cried Quits 118
VIII How Flamberge was Lost 122
IX How Perion Got Unexpected Aid . . 129
PART IV
AHASUERUS
I How Demetrios Held the Queen's Stair
way
II How Demetrios Struggled .
III How Misery Held Nacumera .
IV How Demetrios Cried Farewell
V How Orestes Ruled ....
VI How Women Talked Together
VII How Men Ordered Matters
VIII How Ahasuerus was Candid .
IX How Perion Saw Melicent
X How Melicent Cried a New Bargain
XI How the Jew Told All PIis Plan
XII How Perion Found Melicent . .
Afterword
137
140
145
151
161
165
172
177
181
187
193
199
203
PART ONE
PERION
How Perion, that stalwart was and gay,
Treadeth with sorrow on a holiday,
Since Melicent anon must wed a king:
How in his heart he hath vain love-longing,
For which he putteth life in forfeiture,
And would no longer in such wise endure;
For writhing Perion in Venus' fire
So burneth that he dieth for desire.
THE SOUL OF
MELICENT
I
HOW PERION WAS UNMASKED
PERION afterward remembered the two
weeks spent at Bellegarde as in recovery
from illness a person might remember
some long fever-dream which was all of an in-
tolerable elvish brightness and of incessant laugh-
ter everywhere. They made a deal of him in
Count Emmerick's pleasant home ; and day by day
the outlaw was thrust into relations of mirth with
noblemen, proud ladies, and a king even, being
the while half lightheaded through his singular
knowledge as to how precariously the self-styled
Vicomte de Puysange now balanced himself, as it
were, upon a gilded stepping-stone from infamy
to oblivion.
Now that King Theodoret had withdrawn his
sinister presence, young Perion spent some seven
[3]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
hours of every day alone, to all intent, with Dame
Melicent. There would be merry people within
a stone's throw, it might be, about this recreation
or another, but these two seemed to watch aloofly,
as royal persons do the antics of their hired come-
dians, without any condescension into open inter-
est. They were together ; and the jostle of earthly
happenings might hope, at most, to afford them
matter for incurious comment.
They sat, as Perion thought, for the last time
together, part of a vast audience before which
the Confraternity of St. Medard was enacting
a masque of The Birth of Hercules. The Bishop
of Montors had returned to Bellegarde that even-
ing with his brother, Count Gui, and the pleasure-'
loving prelate had brought these mirth-makers
in his train. Clad in scarlet, he rode before them
playing upon a lute — unclerical conduct which
shocked his preciser brother and surprised no-
body.
In such circumstances Perion began to speak
with an odd purpose, because his reason was be-
drugged by the beauty and purity of Melicent,
[4]
"The Bishop of Montors had returned'
PERION IS UNMASKED
and perhaps a little by the slow and clutching
music to whose progress the chorus of Theban
virgins was dancing. When he had made an
end of harsh whispering, Melicent sat for a while
in scrupulous appraisement of the rushes. The
music was so sweet it seemed to Perion he must
go mad unless she spoke within the moment.
"You tell me you are not the Vicomte de Puy-
sange. You tell me you are, instead, the late
King Hernias' servitor, suspected of his murder.
You are the fellow that stole the royal jewels —
the outlaw for whom half-Christendom is search-
ing— " she began at last; and still he could not
intercept those huge and tender eyes whose
purple made the thought of heaven compre-
hensible.
"I am that widely hounded Perion of the For-
est. The true vicomte is the wounded rascal
whose delirium we marvelled over only last Tues-
day. Yes, at the door of your home I attacked
him, fought him — hah, but fairly, madame! —
and stole his brilliant garments and with them his
papers. Then in my desperate necessity I dared
[5]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
to masquerade. For I know enough about
dancing to estimate that to dance upon air must
necessarily prove to everybody a disgusting per-
formance, but pre-eminently so to the main actor.
Two weeks of safety till the Tranchemer sailed I
therefore valued at a perhaps preposterous rate.
To-night, as I have said, the ship lies at anchor
off Manneville."
Melicent said an odd thing.
"Oh, can it be you are a less despicable person
than you are striving to appear!"
"Rather I am a more unmitigated fool than
even I suspected, since when affairs were in a
promising train I have elected to blurt out, of
all things, the naked and distasteful truth. Pro-
claim it now; and see the late Vicomte de Puy-
sange lugged out of this hall and after appropri-
ate torture hanged within the month." And with
that Perion laughed.
Then he was silent. As the masque went,
Amphitryon had newly returned from warfare,
and was singing under Alcmena's window in the
terms of an aubade, a waking-song. "Rei glo-
[6]
PERION IS UNMASKED
rios, verais lums e clardatz — " he had begun.
Dame Melicent heard him through.
And after many ages, as it seemed to Perion,
the soft and brilliant and exquisite mouth was
pricked to motion.
"You have affronted, by an incredible imposture
and beyond the reach of mercy, every listener in
this hall. You have injured me most deeply of
all persons here. Yet it is to me alone that you
confess. "
Perion leaned forward. You are to under-
stand that, through the incurrent necessities of
every circumstance, each of them spoke in whis-
pers, even now. It was curious to note the candid
mirth on either side. Mercury was making his
adieux to Alcmena's waiting-woman in the mid-
dle of a jig.
"But you," sneered Perion, "are merciful in
all things. Rogue that I am, I dare to build on
this notorious fact. I am snared in a hard golden
trap, I cannot get a guide to Manneville, I can-
not even procure a horse from Count Emmerick's
stables without arousing fatal suspicions; and I
[7]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
must be at Manneville by dawn or else be hanged.
Therefore I dare stake all upon one throw; and
you must either save or hang me now with un-
washed hands. As surely as God reigns, my fu-
ture rests with you. And as I am perfectly
aware, you could not comfortably live with a
gnat's death upon your conscience. Eh, am I not
a seasoned rascal?"
"Do not remind me now that you are vile," said
Melicent. "Ah, no, not now I"
"Lackey, impostor, and thief!" he sternly an-
swered. "There you have the catalogue of all
my rightful titles. And besides, it pleases me,
for a reason I cannot entirely fathom, to be un-
pardonably candid, to fling my destiny into your
lap. To-night, as I have said, the Tranchemer
lies off Manneville ; keep counsel, get me a horse
if you will, and to-morrow I am embarked for
desperate service under the harried Kaiser of
the Greeks from which I am not likely ever to re-
turn. Speak, and I hang before the month is up."
Dame Melicent looked at him now, and within
[8]
PERION IS UNMASKED
the moment Perion was repaid, and bountifully,
for ever folly and misdeed of his entire life.
"What harm have I ever done you, Messire de
la Foret, that you should shame me in this fash-
ion? Until to-night I was not unhappy in the
belief I was loved by you. I may say that now
without paltering, since you are not the man I
thought some day to love. You are but the rind
of him. And you would force me to cheat justice,
to become a hunted thief's accomplice, or else to
murder you!"
"Undoubtedly, madame."
"Then I must help you to preserve your life
by any sorry stratagems you may devise. I shall
not hinder you. I will procure you a guide to
Manneville. I will even forgive you all save one
offence, since doubtless heaven made you the foul
thing you are." The girl was in a hot and splen-
did rage. "For you love me. Women know.
You love me. You!"
"Undoubtedly, madame."
"Look into my face ! and say what horrid writ
[9]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
of infamy you fancied was apparent there, that my
nails may destroy it."
"I am all base," he answered, "and yet not so
profoundly base as you suppose. Nay, believe
me, I had never hoped to win even such scornful
kindness as you might accord your lapdog. I
have but dared to peep at heaven while I might,
and only as lost Dives did. Ignoble as I am, I
never dreamed to squire an angel down toward
the mire and filth which is henceforward my in-
evitable kennel."
"The masque is done," said Melicent, "and yet
you talk, and talk, and talk, and mimic truth so
cunningly — Well, I will send some trusty per-
son to you. And now, for God's sake ! — nay, for
the fiend's love who is your patron! — let me not
ever see you again, Messire de la Foret."
[10]
II
HOW THE VICOMTE WAS VERY GAY
THERE was dancing afterward and a
sumptuous supper. The Vicomte de
Puysange was generally accounted the
most excellent of company that evening. He
mingled affably with the revellers and found a
prosperous answer for every jest they broke upon
the projected marriage of Dame Melicent and
King Theodoret; and meanwhile hugged the re-
flection that half the realm was hunting Perion de
la Foret in the more customary haunts of rascal-
ity. The springs of Perion's turbulent mirth were
that to-morrow every person in the room would
discover how impudently he had been tricked, and
that Melicent deliberated even now, and could not
but admire, the hunted outlaw's insolence, how-
ever much she loathed its perpetrator; and over
this thought in particular Perion laughed like a
madman.
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
"You are very gay to-night, Messire de Puy-
sange," said the Bishop of Montors.
This remarkable young man, it is necessary to
repeat, had reached Bellegarde that evening, com-
ing from Brunbelois. It was he (as you have
heard) who had arranged the match with Theo-
doret. The bishop himself loved his cousin Meli-
cent; but, now that he was in holy orders and
possession of her had become impossible, he had
cannily resolved to utilise her beauty, as he did
everything else, toward his own preferment.
Then the young prelate said, oddly enough,
" But you have an excellent reason, being now,
perhaps, so near to heaven/' His glance at Meli-
cent did not lack pith.
"No, I have quite another reason," Perion an-
swered; "it is that to-morrow I must breakfast in
hell."
And he thought how true this was when, at the
evening's end, he was alone in his own room.
His life was tolerably secure. He trusted Aha-
suerus the Jew to see to it that, about dawn, one
of the ship's boats would touch at Fomor Beach
[12]
THE VICOMTE IS GAY
near Manneville, according to their old agree-
ment. Aboard the Tranchemer the Free Com-
panions awaited their captain; and the savage
land they were bound for was a thought beyond
the reach of a kingdom's lamentable curiosity
concerning the whereabouts of King Hernias'
treasure. The worthless life of Perion was safe.
For worthless, and far less than worthless, life
seemed to Perion as he thought of Melicent and
waited for her messenger. He thought of her
beauty and purity and illimitable loving-kindness
toward every person in the world saving only
Perion of the Forest. He thought of how clean
she was in every thought and deed, and of that,
above all, he thought, and he knew that he would
never see her any more; and in his heart there
was hunger.
[13]
Ill
HOW MELICENT WOOED PERION
THEN Perion knew that vain regret had
turned his brain, very certainly, for it
seemed the door had opened and Dame
Melicent herself had come, warily, into the pan-
elled gloomy room. It seemed that Melicent
paused in the convulsive brilliancy of the firelight,
and stayed thus with vaguely troubled eyes like
those of a child newly wakened from sleep.
And it seemed a long while before she told
Perion very quietly that she had confessed all to
Ayrart de Montors, and had, by reason of de
Montors' love for her, so goaded and allured the
outcome of their talk — "ignobly," as she said —
that a clean-handed gentleman would come at
three o'clock for Perion de la Foret, and guide a
thief toward unmerited impunity. All this she
spoke quite levelly, as one reads aloud from a
book; and then, with a signal change of voice,
[14]
MELICENT WOOES PERION
Melicent said: "Yes, that is true enough. Yet
why, in reality, do you think I have in my own
person come to tell you of it?"
"Madame, I may not guess. Hah, indeed, in-
deed," Perion cried, because he knew the truth
and was unspeakably afraid, "I dare not guess !"
"You sail to-morrow for the fighting over-
sea— " she began, but her sweet voice trailed and
died into silence. He heard the crepitations of
the fire, and even the hurried beatings of his own
heart, as against a terrible and lovely hush of all
created life. "Then take me with you."
Perion had never any recollection of what he
answered. Indeed, he uttered no communicative
words, but only many foolish babblements.
"Oh, I do not understand," said Melicent. "It
is as though some spell were laid upon me. Look
you, I have been cleanly reared, I have never
wronged any person that I know of, and through-
out my quiet, sheltered life I have loved truth and
honour most of all. My judgment grants you
to be what you are confessedly. And there is
that in me more masterful and surer than my
[15]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
judgment, that which seems omnipotent and
lightly puts aside your own confession."
"Lackey, impostor, and thief!" young Perion
answered. 'There you have the catalogue of all
my rightful titles fairly earned."
"And even if I believe you, I think I would not
care! Is that not strange? For then I should
despise you. And even then, I think, I would
fling my honour at your feet, as I do now, and
but in part with loathing entreat you to make of
me your wife, your servant, anything that pleased
you. . . . Oh, I had thought that when love came
it would be sweet !"
Strangely quiet — yes, in every sense — he an-
swered :
"It is very sweet. I have known no happier
moment in my life. For you stand within arm's
reach, mine to touch, mine to possess and do with
as I will. And I dare not lift a finger. I am as a
man that has lain for a long while in a dungeon
vainly hungering for the glad light of day — who,
being freed at last, must hide his eyes from the
dear sunlight he dare not look upon as yet. Ho.
[16]
MELICENT WOOES PERION
I am past speech unworthy of your notice ! and I
pray you now speak harshly with me, madame, for
when your pure eyes regard me kindly, and your
bright and delicate lips have come thus near to
mine, I am so greatly tempted and so happy that
I fear lest heaven grow jealous!"
"Be not too much afraid — " she murmured.
"Nay, should I then be bold? and within the
moment wake Count Emmerick to say to him,
very boldly, 'Beau sire, the thief half-Christen-
dom is hunting has the honour to request your
sister's hand in marriage' ?"
"You sail to-morrow for the fighting oversea.
Take me with you."
"Indeed the feat would be quite worthy of me.
For you are a lady tenderly nurtured and used to
every luxury the age affords. There comes to
woo you presently an excellent and potent mon-
arch, not all unworthy of your love, who will pres-
ently share with you many happy and honourable
years. Yonder is a lawless naked wilderness
where I and my fellow desperadoes hope to cheat
offended justice of a mere existence. You bid
[17]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
me aid you to go into this country, never to re-
turn! Madame, if I obeyed you, Satan would
protest against pollution of his ageless fires by any
soul so filthy."
"You talk of little things, whereas I think of
great things. Love is not sustained by palatable
food alone, and is not served only by those persons
who go about the world in satin."
"Then take the shameful truth. It is undenia-
ble I swore I loved you, and with appropriate ges-
tures, too. But, dompnedex, madame! I am
past master in these specious ecstasies, for some-
how I have rarely seen the woman who had not
some charm or other to catch my heart with. I
confess now that you alone have never quickened
it. My only purpose was through hyperbole to
wheedle you out of a horse, and meanwhile to
have my recreation, you handsome jade! — and
that is all you ever meant to me. I swear to you
that is all, all, all !" sobbed Perion, for it appeared
that he must die. "I have amused myself with
you, I have abominably tricked you — "
Melicent only waited with untroubled eyes
[18]
MELICENT WOOES PERION
which seemed to plumb his heart and to appraise
all which Perion had ever thought or longed for
since the day that Perion was born ; and she was
as beautiful, it seemed to him, as the untroubled,
gracious angels are, and more compassionate.
"Yes," Perion said, "I am trying to lie to you.
And even at lying I fail."
She said, with a wonderful smile:
"Assuredly there were never any other persons
so mad as we. For I must do the wooing, as
though you were the maid, and all the while you
rebuff me and suffer so that I fear to look on
you. Men say you are no better than a high-
waymen; you confess yourself to be a thief: and
I believe none of your accusers. Perion de la
Foret," said Melicent, and ballad-makers have
never shaped a phrase wherewith to tell you of her
voice, "I know that you have dabbled in dishonour
no more often than an archangel has pilfered dry-
ing linen from a hedgerow. I do not guess, for
my hour is upon me, and inevitably I know ! and
there is nothing dares to come between us now."
"Nay, — ho, and even were matters as you sup-
[19]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
»
pose them, without any warrant — there is at least
one silly stumbling knave that dares as much.
Saith he: 'What is the most precious thing in
the world? — Why, assuredly, Dame Melicent's
welfare. Let me get the keeping of it, then. For
I have been entrusted with a host of common
priceless things — with youth and health and hon-
our, with a clean conscience and a child's faith,
and so on — and no person alive has squandered
them more gallantly. So heartward ho ! and trust
me now, my timorous yokefellow, to win and
squander also the chief est jewel of the world/
Eh, thus he chuckles and nudges me, with wicked
whisperings. Indeed, madame, this rascal that
shares equally in my least faculty is a most piti-
ful, ignoble rogue! and he has aforetime eked
out our common livelihood by such practices as
your unsullied imagination could scarcely depic-
ture. Until I knew you I had endured him. But
you have made of him a horror. A horror, a
horror ! a thing too pitiful for hell !" He screened
his eyes as if before some physical abomination.
The girl kneeled close to him, touching him.
[20]
MELICENT WOOES PERION
"My dear, my dear ! then slay for me this other
Perion of the Forest."
And Perion laughed, although not very mirth-
fully.
"It is the common usage of women to ask of
men this little labour, which is a harder task than
ever Hercules, that mighty-muscled king of
heathenry, achieved. Nay, I, for all my sinews,
am an attested weakling. The craft of other men
I do not fear, for I have encountered no formida-
ble enemy, saving only myself ; but that same mid-
night stabber unhorsed me long ago. I had wal-
lowed in the mire contentedly enough until you
came. . . . Ah, child, child! why needed you to
trouble me! for I want only to be clean as you
are clean to-night, and that I may not ever be.
I am garrisoned with devils, I am the battered
plaything of every vice, and I lack the strength,
and it may be, even the will, to leave my mire.
Always I have betrayed the stewardship of man
and god alike that my body might escape a mo-
mentary discomfort! And loving you as I do,
I cannot swear that in the outcome I would not
[21]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
betray you too, to this same end! I cannot
swear — ■ Oh, now let Satan laugh, yet not un-
pitifully, since he and I, alone, know all the rea-
sons why I may not swear ! Hah, Madame Meli-
cent!" cried Perion, in his great agony, "you of-
fer me that gift an emperor might not accept save
in awed gratitude; and I refuse it." Gently he
raised her to her feet. "And now, in God's name,
go, madame, and leave the prodigal among his
husks."
"You are a very brave and foolish gentleman,"
she said, "who chooses to face his own achieve-
ments without any paltering. To every man, I
think, that must be bitter work; to the woman
who loves him it is impossible."
And Perion could not see her face, because he
lay prone at the feet of Melicent, sobbing, but
without any tears, and tasting very deeply of such
grief and vain regret as, he had thought, they
know in hell alone; and even after she had gone,
in silence, he lay in this same posture for an ex-
ceedingly long while.
[22]
IV
HOW PERION BROKE FAITH WITH MELUSINE
AND after he knew not how long a while,
Perion propped his chin between his
hands and, still sprawling upon the
rushes, stared hard into the little, crackling fire.
He was thinking of a Perion de la Foret that once
had been. In him were found fit mate for even
Melicent had the boy not died — and so long ago !
It is no more cheerful than any other mortuary
employment, this disinterment of the person you
have been, and are not any longer; and so he
found it.
Then Perion arose and looked for pen and ink.
It was the only letter he ever wrote to Melicent,
and, as you will presently learn, she never saw it.
In such terms Perion wrote :
"Madame — It may please you to remember that when
Dame Melusine and I were interrogated, I freely con-
fessed to both the murder of King Helmas and the theft
of my dead master's jewels. In that I lied. For it was
my manifest duty to save the woman whom, as I thought,
[23]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
I loved, and it was apparent that the guilty person was
either she or I.
"She is now at Brunbelois, where, as I have heard,
the splendour of her estate is tolerably notorious. I have
not ever heard she gave a thought to me, her cat's-paw.
Madame, when I think of you and then of that sleek,
smiling woman, I am appalled by my own folly. I am
aghast by my long blindness as I write the words which
no one will believe. For what need now to deny a crime
which every circumstance imputed to me and my own
confession has publicly acknowledged?
"But you, I think, will believe me. Look you, ma-
dame, I have nothing to gain of you. I shall not ever
see you any more. I go into a perilous and an eternal
banishment; and in the immediate neighbourhood of
death a man finds little sustenance for romance. Take
the worst of me : a gentleman I was born, and as a was-
trel I have lived, and always very foolishly ; but without
dishonour. I have never to my knowledge — and God
judge me as I speak the truth! — wronged any man or
woman save myself. My dear, believe me! believe me,
in spite of reason ! and understand that my adoration and
misery and unworthiness when I think of you are such
as I cannot measure, and afford me no judicious moment
wherein to fashion lies. For I shall not see you any
more.
"I thank you, madame, for your all-unmerited kind-
nesses, and, oh, I pray you to believe !"
[24]
HOW THE BISHOP AIDED PERION
THEN at three o'clock, as Perion supposed,
some one tapped upon the door. Perion
went out into the corridor, which was
now unlighted, so that he had to hold to the cloak
of Ayrart de Montors as the young prelate guided
Perion through the complexities of unfamiliar
halls and stairways into an inhospitable night.
There were here two horses, and presently the
men were mounted and away.
Once only Perion shifted in the saddle to glance
back at Bellegarde, black and formless against an
empty sky ; and he dared not look again, for the
thought of her that lay awake in the Marshal's
Tower, so near at hand as yet, was like a dagger.
With set teeth he followed in the wake of his taci-
turn companion. The bishop never spoke save to
growl out some direction.
Thus they came to Manneville and past it to
[25]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Fomor Beach, a narrow sandy coast. It was
dark in this place and very still save for the en-
croachment of the tide. Yonder were four little
lights, lazily heaving with the water's motion, to
show them where the Tranchemer lay at anchor.
It did not seem to Perion that anything mattered,
"It will be nearing dawn by this," he said.
"Ay," Ayrart de Montors said, very briefly;
and his tone evinced his willingness to dispense
with any further conversation. Perion of the
Forest was an unclean thing which he must touch
in his necessity, but could touch with loathing
only, as a thirsty man takes a fly out of his drink.
Perion conceded it, because nothing would ever
matter any more ; and so, the horses tethered, they
sat upon the sand in utter silence for the space of
a half hour.
A bird cried somewhere, just once, and with a
start Perion knew it was not quite so murky as it
had been, for he could see a broken line of white
now where the tide crept up and shattered and
ebbed. Then in a while a light sank tipsily to the
water's level and presently was bobbing in the
[26]
THE BISHOP AIDS PERION
darkness, apart from those other lights, and ever
growing in brilliancy.
Said Perion : "They have sent out the boat."
"Ay," the bishop answered, as before.
A sort of madness came upon Perion, and it
seemed that he must weep, because everything
fell out so very ill in this world.
"Messire, you have aided me. I would be
grateful if you permitted it."
De Montors spoke at last, and crisply : "Grat-
itude, I take it, forms no part of the bargain. I
am the kinsman of Dame Melicent. It makes for
my interest and for the honour of our house that
the man whose rooms she visits at night be got
out of Poictesme — "
Said Perion: "You speak in this fashion of
the most lovely lady God has made — of her whom
the world adores !"
"Adores!" the bishop answered, with a laugh;
"and what poor gull am I to adore an attested
wanton?" Then, with a sneer, he spoke of Meli-
cent, and in such terms as are not bettered by
repetition.
C27]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Per ion said: "I am the most unhappy man
alive, as surely as you are the most ungenerous.
For, look you, in my presence you have spoken
infamy of Dame Melicent, though knowing I am
in your debt so deeply that I have not the right to
resent anything you may elect to say. You have
just given me my life ; and armoured by the fire-
new obligation, you blaspheme an angel, you con-
descend to buffet a fettered man — " And with
that his sluggish wits had spied an honest way out
of the imbroglio.
Perion said only: "Draw, messire! for, as
God lives, I may yet repurchase, though at the
eleventh hour, the privilege of destroying you."
"Heyday! but here is an odd evincement of
gratitude!" de Montors retorted; "and though I
am not particularly squeamish, let me tell you, my
fine fellow, I do not ordinarily fight with lackeys."
"Nor are you fit to do so, messire. Believe me,
there is not a lackey in the realm — no, not a cut-
purse — but would degrade himself in meeting you
on equal footing. For you have slandered that
which is most perfect in the world; yet lies, Mes-
[28]
THE BISHOP AIDS PERION
sire de Montors, have short legs; and I design
within the hour to insure the calumny against an
echo."
"Rogue, I have given you your very life within
the hour— "
"The fact is undeniable. So I must fling the
bounty back to you that we may meet as equals."
Perion wheeled toward the boat, which was now
within the reach of wading. "Who is among
you? Gaucelm, Roger, Jean Britauz — " He
found the man he sought. "Ahasuerus, the cap-
tain that was to have accompanied the Free Com-
panions oversea is of another mind. I cede my
leadership to Landry de Bonnay. You will have
the kindness, if I may make so bold, to inform him
of the unlooked-for change, and to tender your
new captain every appropriate regret and the dy-
ing felicitations of Perion de la Foret."
He bowed toward the landward twilight, where
the sand hillocks were taking form.
"Messire de Montors, we may now resume our
vigil. When yonder vessel sails there will be no
conceivable happening that can keep breath within
[29]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
my body two months longer. I shall be quit of
every debt to you. You will then fight with a
man already dead if you so elect ; but otherwise —
if you attempt to flee this place, if you decline to
cross swords with a lackey, with a convicted thief,
with a suspected murderer, I swear upon my
mother's honour! I will demolish you without
compunction as I would any other vermin."
"Oh, brave, brave!" sneered the bishop, "to
fling away your life, and perhaps mine too, for an
idle word — " But at that he fetched a sob.
"How foolish of you ! and how like you \" he said,
and Perion seemed now to hear the voice of
Melicent.
"Hey, gentlemen!" cried Ayrart de Montors,
"a moment if you please!" He splashed knee-
deep into the icy water, wading to the boat, where
he snatched the lantern from the Jew's hands and
fetched this light ashore. He held it aloft, so
that Perion might see his face, and Perion per-
ceived that by some wonder-working it was Meli-
cent in man's attire who held this light aloft. It
was odd that Perion always remembered after-
[30]
THE BISHOP AIDS PERION
ward most clearly of all the loosened wisp of hair
the wind tossed about her forehead.
"Look well upon me, Perion," said Melicent.
"Look well, ruined gentleman! look well, poor
hunted vagabond ! and note how proud I am. Oh,
in all things I am very proud ! A little I exult in
my high station and in my wealth, and, yes, even
in my beauty, for I know that I am beautiful, but
the chief of all my honours is that you love me —
and so foolishly !"
"You do not understand — !" cried Perion.
"Rather I understand at last that you are in
sober verity a lackey, an impostor, and a thief,
even as you said. Ay, a lackey to your honour !
an impostor that would endeavour — and, oh, so
very vainly ! — to impersonate another's baseness !
and a thief that has stolen another person's pun-
ishment ! I ask no questions ; loving means trust-
ing ; but I would like to kill that other person very,
very slowly. I ask no questions, but I dare to
trust the man I know of, even in defiance of that
man's own voice. I dare protest the man no
thief, but in all things a madly honourable gentle-
[31]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
man. My poor bruised, puzzled boy," said Meli-
cent, with an odd mirthful tenderness, "how came
you to be blundering about this miry world of
ours ! Only be very good for my sake and forget
the bitterness ; what does it matter when there is
happiness, too?"
He answered nothing, but it was not because
of misery.
"Come, come, will you not even help me into
the boat ?" said Melicent. She, too, was glad.
[321
VI
HOW MELICENT WEDDED PERION
THAT may not be, my cousin."
It was the real Bishop of Montors
who was speaking. His company, some
fifteen men in all, had ridden up in the noise-
muffling sand while Melicent and Perion looked
seaward. The bishop was clothed, in his habitual
fashion, as a cavalier, showing in nothing as a
churchman. He sat a-horseback for a consider-
able while, looking down at them, smiling and
stroking the pommel of his saddle with a gold-
fringed glove. It was now dawn.
"I have been eavesdropping/' the bishop said.
His voice was tender, for the young man loved
his kinswoman with an affection second only to
that which he reserved for Ayrart de Montors.
"Yes, I have been eavesdropping for an instant,
and through that instant I seemed to see the heart
of every woman that ever lived ; and they differed
[33]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
only as stars differ on a fair night in August.
No woman ever loved a man except, at bottom,
as a mother loves her child : let him elect to build
a nation or to write imperishable verses or to
take purses upon the highway, and she will only
smile to note how breathlessly the boy goes about
his playing; and when he comes back to her with
grimier hands she is a little sorry, and, if she
think it salutary, will pretend to be angry. Mean-
while she sets about the quickest way to cleanse
him and to heal his bruises. They are more wise
than we, and at the bottom of their hearts they pity
us more stalwart folk whose grosser wits require,
to be quite sure of anything, a mere crass proof
of it ; and always they make us better by indomita-
bly believing we are better than in reality a man
can ever be."
Now Ayrart de Montors dismounted.
"So much for my sermon. For the rest,
Messire de la Foret, I perfectly recognised you on
the first day you came to Bellegarde. But I said
nothing. For that you had not murdered King
Helmas, as is popularly reported, I was certain,
[34]
MELICENT WEDS PERION
inasmuch as I happen to know that he is now at
Brunbelois, where Dame Melusine holds his per-
son and his treasury. A terrible, delicious
woman! begotten on a water-demon, people say.
I ask no questions. She is a close and useful
friend to me, and through her aid I hope to go far.
You see that I am frank. It is my nature." The
bishop shrugged. "In a phrase, I accepted the
Vicomte de Puysange, although it was necessary,
of course, to keep an eye upon your comings in
and your goings out, as you now see. And until
this the imposture amused me. But this" — his
hand waved toward the Tranchemer — "this, my
fair friends, is past a jest."
"You talk and talk," cried Perion, "and I only
realise that I love the fairest lady who at any
time has had life upon earth."
"The proof of your affection," the bishop re-
turned, "is, if you will permit the observation,
somewhat extraordinary. For you propose, I
gather, to make of her a camp-follower, a soldier's
drab. Come, come, messire! you and I are con-
versant with warfare as it is. Armies do not con-
[35]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
duct it by throwing sugar-candy at one another.
What home have you, a landless man, to offer
Melicent? What place is there for Melicent
among your Free Companions ?"
"Oh, do I not know that!" said Perion. He
turned to Melicent, and long and long they gazed
upon each other.
"Ignoble as I am," said Perion, "I never
dreamed to squire an angel down toward the mire
and filth which for a while as yet must be my
kennel. I go. I go alone. Do you bid me re-
turn?"
The girl was perfectly calm. She took a ring
of diamonds from her hand, and placed it on his
little finger, because the others were too large.
"While life endures I pledge you faith and
service, Perion. There is no need to speak of
love."
"There is no need," he answered. "Oh, does
God think that I will live without you !"
"I suppose they will give me to King Theo-
doret. The terrible old man has set my body as
the only price that will buy him off from ravaging
[36]
MELICENT WEDS PERION
Poictesme, and he is stronger in the field than
Emmerick. Emmerick is afraid of him, and
Ayrart here has need of his friendship in order
to become a cardinal. So my kinsmen must make
traffic of my eyes and lips and hair. But first I
wed you, Perion, here in the sight of God, and
I bid you return to me, your wife and servitor for
ever now, whatever men may do."
"I will return," he said.
Then in a little while she withdrew her lips from
his lips.
"Cover my face, Ayrart. It may be I shall
weep presently. Men must not see the wife of
Perion weep. Cover my face, for he is going
now, and I cannot watch his going."
[37]
PART TWO
MELICENT
Of how through love is Melicent upcast
Under a heathen castle at the last:
And how a wicked lord of proud degree,
Demetrios, dwelleth in this country.
Where humbled under him are all mankind:
How to this wretched woman he hath mind,
That fallen is in pagan lands alone,
In point to die, as presently is shown.
HOW MELICENT SOUGHT PERION OVERSEA
IT is a tale which they narrate in Poictesme,
telling how love began between Perion of
the Forest, who was a captain of mercenaries,
and young Melicent, who was sister to Count Em-
merick of Poictesme. They tell also how these
two parted, since there was no remedy, and policy
demanded she should wed King Theodoret.
And the tale tells how Perion sailed with his
retainers to seek desperate service under the har-
ried Kaiser of the Greeks.
This venture was ill-fated, since, as the Free
Companions were passing not far from Masillia,
their vessel being at the time becalmed, they were
attacked by three pagan galleys under the
admiralty of the proconsul Demetrios. For Pe-
rion's men, who fought so hardily on land, were
novices at sea. They were powerless against an
adversary who, from a great distance, showered
liquid fire upon their vessel.
[41]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Then Demetrios sent little boats and took some
thirty prisoners from the blazing ship, and made
slaves of all save Ahasuerus the Jew, whom he
released on being informed of the lean man's re-
ligion. It was a customary boast of this Deme-
trios that he made war on Christians only.
And presently, as Perion had commanded,
Ahasuerus came to Melicent.
The princess sat in a high chair, the back of
which was capped with a big lion's head in brass.
It gleamed above her head, but was less glorious
than her bright hair.
Ahasuerus made dispassionate report. "Thus
painfully I have delivered, as my task was, these
fine messages concerning Faith and Love and
Death and so on. Touching their rationality I may
reserve my own opinion. I am merely Perion's
echo. Do I echo madness? This madman was
my loved and honored master once, a lord without
any peer in the fields where men contend in battle.
To-day those sinews which preserved a throne are
dedicated to the transportation of luggage. Grant
it is laughable. I do not laugh."
[42]
'Demetrios sent little boats'
MELICENT SEEKS PERION
"And I lack time to weep," said Melicent.
So, when the Jew had told his tale and gone,
young Melicent arose and went into a chamber
painted with the histories of Jason and Medea,
where her brother Count Emmerick hid many
jewels, such as had not their fellows in Christen-
dom.
She did not hesitate. She knew that Perion
was in captivity and might not look for aid from
any person living save herself.
She gathered in a blue napkin such emeralds
as would ransom a pope. She cut short her mar-
vellous hair and disguised herself in all things
as a man, and under cover of the ensuing night
slipped from the castle. At Manneville she found
a Venetian ship bound homeward with a cargo of
swords and armour.
She hired herself to the captain of this vessel
as a servant, calling herself Jocelin Gaignars.
She found no time wherein to be afraid or to
grieve for the estate she was relinquishing, so
long as Perion lay in danger.
Thus the young Jocelin, though not without
[43]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
much hardship and odd by-ends of adventure here
irrelevant, came with time's course into a land
of sunlight and much wickedness where Perion
was.
There the boy found in what fashion Perion was
living and won the dearly purchased misery of
seeing him, from afar, in his deplorable condition,
as Perion went through the outer yard of Nacu-
mera laden with chains and carrying great logs
toward the kitchen. This befell when Jocelin had
come into the hill country, where the eyrie of
Demetrios blocked a crag-hung valley as snugly
as a stone chokes a gutter-pipe.
Young Jocelin had begged an audience of this
heathen lord and had obtained it — though Jocelin
did not know as much — with ominous facility.
[44]
II
HOW MELICENT BARGAINED
DEMETRIOS lay on a divan within the
Court of Stars, through which you
passed from the fortress into the Wom-
en's Garden and the luxurious prison where he
kept his wives. This court was circular in form
and was paved with red and yellow slabs, laid al-
ternately, like a chess-board. In the centre was
a fountain, which cast up a tall thin jet of water.
A gallery extended around the place, supported by
columns that had been painted scarlet and were
gilded with fantastic designs. The walls were
of the colour of claret and were adorned with
golden cinquefoils regularly placed. From a dis-
tance they resembled stars, and so gave the en-
closure its name.
Demetrios lay upon a long divan which was
covered with crimson and encircled the court en-
tirely, save for the apertures of its two entrances.
[45]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Demetrios was of burly person, which he by or-
dinary, as to-day, adorned resplendently ; of a
stature little above the common size, and dispro-
portionately broad as to his chest and shoulders.
It was rumoured that he could bore an apple
through with his forefinger and had once killed
a refractory horse with a blow of his naked fist;
nor looking on the man, did you presume to ques-
tion the report. His eyes were large and inso-
lent, coloured like onyxes ; and for the rest, he had
a handsome surly face which was disfigured by
pimples.
He did not speak at all while Jocelin explained
his errand was to ramson Perion. Then, "At
what price ?" Demetrios said, without any sign of
interest ; and Jocelin, with many encomiums, dis-
played his emeralds.
"Ay, they are well enough," Demetrios agreed.
"But then I have a superfluity of jewels."
He raised himself a little among the cushions,
and in this moving the figured golden stuff in
which he was clothed heaved and glittered like
the scales of a splendid monster. He leisurely
[46]
NOW MELICENT BARGAINS
unfastened the great chrysoberyl, big as a hen's
egg, which adorned his fillet.
"Look you, this is of a far more beautiful green
than any of your trinkets. I think it is as valua-
ble also, because of its huge size. Moreover, it
turns red by lamplight — red as blood. That is an
admirable colour. And yet I do not value it. I
think I do not value anything. So I will make
you a gift of this big coloured pebble, if you desire
it, because your ignorance amuses me. Most peo-
ple know Demetrios is not a merchant. He does
not buy and sell. That which he has he keeps,
and that which he desires he takes."
The boy was all despair. He did not speak.
He was very handsome as he stood in that still
place where everything excepting him was red and
gold.
"You do not value my poor chrysoberyl? You
value your friend more ? It is a page out of Theo-
critos — 'when there were golden men of old, when
friends gave love for love.' And yet I could have
sworn — Come now, a wager," purred Deme-
trios. "Show your contempt of this bauble to
[47]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
be as great as mine by throwing it, say, into the
gallery, for the next passer-by to pick up, and I
will credit your sincerity. Do that and I will even
name my price for Perion."
The boy obeyed him without hesitation. Turn-
ing, he saw the horrid change in the intent eyes
of Demetrios, and he quailed before it. But in-
stantly that flare of passion flickered out.
Demetrios gently said: "A bargain is a bar-
gain. My wives are beautiful, but their caresses
annoy me as much as formerly they pleased me.
I have long thought it would perhaps amuse me
if I had a Christian wife with eyes like violets
and hair like gold and of a plump white person.
A man tires very soon of ebony and amber. . . .
Procure me such a wife and I will willingly re-
lease this Perion and all his fellows who are yet
alive/'
"But, seignior/' — and the boy was shaken now
— "you demand of me an impossibility !"
"I am so hardy as to think not. And my rea-
son is that a man throws from the elbow only, but
a woman with her whole arm."
[48]
NOW MELICENT BARGAINS
There fell a silence now.
"Why, look you, I deal fairly, though. Were
such a woman here — Demetrios of Anatolia's
guest — I verily believe I would not hinder her de-
parture, as I might easily do. For there is not
a person within many miles of this place who con-
siders it wholesome to withstand me. Yet were
this woman purchasable, I would purchase. And
— if she refused — I would not hinder her depar-
ture ; but very certainly I would put Perion to the
Torment of the Water-drops. It is so droll to
see a man go mad before your eyes, I think that
I would laugh and quite forget the woman."
She said : "O God, I cry to You for justice !"
He answered: "My good girl, in Nacumera
the wishes of Demetrios are justice. But we
waste time. You desire to purchase one of my
belongings ? So be it. I will hear your offer."
Just once her hands had gripped each other.
Her arms fell now as if they had been drained of
life. She spoke in a dull voice.
"I offer Melicent who was a princess. I cry
a price for red lips and bright eyes and a fair
[49]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
woman's tender body without any blemish. I cry
a price for youth and happiness and honour.
These you may have for playthings, seignior, with
everything which I possess, except my heart, for
that is dead."
Demetrios asked : "Is this true speech ?"
She answered: "It is as sure as Love and
Death. I know that nothing is more sure than
these, and I praise God for it."
He chuckled, saying: "Platitudes break no
bones."
[50]
Ill
HOW PERION WAS FREED
ON the next day the chains were filed from
Perion de la Foret and all his fellows,
save the nine unfortunates whom Deme-
trios had appointed to fight with lions a month
before this, when he had entertained the Soldan
of Bacharia. These men were bathed and per-
fumed and richly clad.
A galley of the proconsul's fleet conveyed them
toward Christendom and set the twoscore slaves
of yesterday ashore not far from Megaris. The
captain of the galley on departure left with Perion
a blue napkin, wherein were wrapped large em-
eralds and a bit of parchment as well.
It read :
"Not these, but the body of Melicent, who was
once a princess, purchased your bodies. Yet these will
buy you ships and men and swords with which to storm
my house where Melicent now is. Come if you will
and fight with Demetrios of Anatolia for that brave girl
[51]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
who loved a porter as all loyal men should love their
Maker and customarily do not I think it would amuse
us."
Then Perion stood by the languid sea which
severed him from Melicent and cried: "O God,
that hast permitted this hard bargain, trade now
with me ! now barter with me, O Father of us all !
That which a man has I will give."
He stood in the clear sunlight with no more
wavering in his face than you may find in the
next statue's. Both hands strained toward the
blue sky, as though he made a vow. If so, he did
not break it.
And now no more of Perion.
At the same hour young Melicent, wrapped all
about with a flame-coloured veil and crowned with
ma j oram, was led by a spruce boy toward a
threshold, over which Demetrios lifted her, while
many people sang in a strange tongue. And then
she paid her pitiable ransom.
"Hymen, O Hymen !" they sang. "Do thou of
many names and many temples, golden Aphrodite,
be propitious to this bridal! Now let him first
[52]
NOW PERION IS FREED
compute the glittering stars of midnight and the
grasshoppers of a summer day who would count
the joys this bridal shall bring about ! Hymen, O
Hymen, rejoice thou in this bridal !"
[53]
IV
HOW DEMETRIOS WAS AMUSED
NOW Melicent abode in the house of Deme-
trios, whom she had not seen since the
morning after he had wedded her. A
month had passed. As yet she could not under-
stand the language of her fellow prisoners, but
Halaon, a eunuch who had once served a cardinal
in Tuscany, informed her the proconsul was in the
West Provinces, where an invading force had
landed under Ranulph de Meschines.
A month had passed. She woke one night from
dreams of Perion — what else should women dream
of? — and found the same Ahasuerus that had
brought her news of Perion's captivity, so long
ago, attendant at her bedside.
He seemed a prey to some half-scornful mirth.
In speech, at least, the man was of entire discre-
tion. "The Splendour of the World desires your
presence, madame." Thus the Jew blandly spoke.
[54]
DEMETRIOS IS AMUSED
She cried, aghast at so much treachery, "You
had planned this !"
He answered: "I plan always. Oh, cer-
tainly, I must weave always as the spider does.
. . . Meanwhile time passes. I, like you, am now
the servitor of Demetrios. I am his factor now
at Calonak. I buy and sell. I estimate ounces.
I earn my wages. Who forbids it?" Here the
Jew shrugged. "And to conclude, the Splen-
dour of the World desires your presence,
madame."
He seemed to get much joy of this mouth-filling
periphrasis as sneeringly he spoke of their com-
mon master.
Now Melicent, in a loose robe of green Coan
stuff shot through and through with a radiancy
like that of copper, followed the thin, smiling Jew
Ahasuerus. She came thus with bare feet into
the Court of Stars, where the proconsul lay on the
divan as though he had not ever moved from there.
But to-night he was clothed in scarlet, and bar-
baric ornaments dangled from his pierced ears.
[55]
THE SOUL OF M ELI CENT
These glittered now that his head moved a little
as he silently dismissed Ahasuerus from the Court
of Stars.
Real stars were overhead, so brilliant and (it
seemed) so near they turned the fountain's jet
into a spurt of melting silver. The moon was set,
but there was a flaring lamp of iron high as a
man's shoulder yonder where Demetrios lay.
"Stand close to it, my wife," said the proconsul,
"in order I may see my newest purchase very
clearly." She obeyed him ; and esteemed the sac-
rifice, however unendurable, which bought for
Perion the chance to serve God and his love for
her by valorous and commendable actions to be no
cause for grief.
"I think with those old men who sat upon the
walls of Troy," Demetrios said, and laughed be-
cause his voice had shaken so. "Meanwhile I have
returned from crucifying a hundred of your fel-
low worshippers," Demetrios continued. His
speech had an odd sweetness. "Ey, yes, I con-
quered at Yroga. It was a good fight. My
horse's hoofs were red at its conclusion. My sur-
[56]
DEMETRIOS IS AMUSED
viving opponents I consider to have been deplora-
ble fools when they surrendered, for people die
less painfully in battle. There was one fellow, a
Franciscan monk, who hung six hours upon a
palm tree, always turning his head from one side
to the other. It was amusing."
She answered nothing.
"And I was wondering always how I would
feel were you nailed in his place. It was curious
I should have thought of you. . . . But your
white flesh is like the petals of a flower. I sup-
pose it is as readily destructible. I think you
would not long endure/'
"I pray God hourly that I may not !" said tense
Melicent.
He was a little pleased to have wrung even one
cry of anguish from this lovely effigy. He mo-
tioned her to him and laid one hand upon her
naked breast. He gave a gesture of distaste.
"No, you are not afraid. However, you are very
beautiful. I thought that you would please me
more when your gold hair had grown a trifle
longer. There is nothing in the world so beauti-
[57]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
ful as golden hair. Its beauty weathers even the
commendation of poets."
No power of motion seemed to be in this white
girl, but certainly you could detect no fear. Her
clinging robe shone like an opal in the lamplight,
and her face was very fair. Her eyes implored
you, but only as those of a trapped animal beseech
the mercy it does not really hope for.
In the man's heart woke now some comprehen-
sion of the nature of her love for Perion, of that
high and alien madness which dared to make of
Demetrios of Anatolia's will an unavoidable dis-
comfort, and no more. The prospect was allur-
ing. The proconsul began to chuckle as water
pours from a jar, and the gold in his ears twinkled.
"Decidedly I shall get much mirth of you. Go
back to your own rooms. I had thought the world
afforded no adversary and no game worthy of
Demetrios. I have found both. Therefore, go
back to your own rooms," he gently said.
[58]
HOW THE TIME SPED IN HEATHENRY
ON the next day Melicent was removed
to more magnificent apartments, and
lodged in a lofty and spacious pavilion,
having three porticoes builded of marble and
carved teakwood and Andalusian copper. Her
rooms were spread with gold-worked carpets and
hung with tapestries and brocaded silks figured
with all manner of beasts and birds in their proper
colors. Such was the girl's home now, where
only happiness was denied to her. Many slaves
attended Melicent, and she lacked for nothing in
luxury and riches and things of price ; and there-
after she abode at Nacumera, to all appearances,
as the favorite among the proconsul's wives.
It must be recorded of Demetrios that hence-
forth he scrupulously demurred even to touch her
hand. "I have purchased your body," he proudly
said, "and I have taken seizin. I find I do not
care for anything which can be purchased."
[59]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
It may be that the man was never sane; it is
indisputable that the mainspring of his least ac-
tion was an inordinate pride. Here he had
stumbled upon something which made of Deme-
trios of Anatolia a temporary discomfort, and
which bedwarfed the utmost reach of his ill-doing
into equality with the molestations of a house-fly;
and perception of this fact worked in Demetrios
like a poisonous ferment. To beg or once again
to pillage he thought equally unworthy of himself.
"Let us have patience." It was not easily said so
long as this fair Frankish woman dared to enter-
tain a passion which Demetrios could not compre-
hend, and of which Demetrios was, and knew him-
self to be, incapable.
A connoisseur of passions, he resented such be-
littlement tempestuously; and he heaped every
luxury upon Melicent, because as he assured him-
self, the heart of every woman is alike.
He had his theories, his cunning, and, chief of
all, an appreciation of her beauty, as his abettors.
She had her memories and her clean heart. They
duelled thus accoutred.
[60]
NOW THE TIME SPEEDS
Meanwhile his other wives peered from
screened alcoves at these two and duly hated Meli-
cent. Upon no less than three occasions did Cal-
listion — the first wife of the proconsul and the
mother of his elder son — attempt the life of Meli-
cent; and thrice Demetrios spared the woman at
Melicent's entreaty. For Melicent (since she
loved Per ion) could understand that it was love
of Demetrios, rather than hate of her, which
drove the Dacian virago to extremities.
[61]
VI
HOW FLAMBERGE WAS DRAWN
ONE day about noon Demetrios came un-
heralded into Melicent's resplendent
prison. Through an aisle of painted
pillars he came to her, striding with unwonted
quickness, glittering as he moved. His robe this
day was scarlet, the colour he chiefly affected.
Gold glowed upon his forehead, gold dangled from
his ears, and about his throat was a broad collar
of gold and rubies. At his side was a cross-
handled sword in a scabbard of blue leather curi-
ously ornamented.
"Give thanks, my wife," Demetrios said, "that
you are beautiful. For beauty was ever the spur
of valour." Then quickly, joyously, he told her
of how a fleet of King Theodoret's had been de-
spatched against his province and of how among
the invaders were Perion of the Forest and his
Free Companions. "Ey, yes, my porter has re-
[62]
FLAMBERGE IS DRAWN
turned. I ride instantly for the coast to greet him
with appropriate welcome. I pray heaven it is no
sluggard or weakling that is come out against
me."
Proudly Melicent replied: "There comes
against you a champion of noted deeds, a courte-
ous and hardy gentleman, pre-eminent at sword-
play. There was never any man more ready
than Perion to break a lance or shatter a shield,
or more eager to succour the helpless and put to
shame all cowards and traitors."
Demetrios dryly said: "I do not question that
the virtues of my porter are innumerable. There-
fore we will not attempt to catalogue them. Now
Ahasuerus reports that even before you came to
tempt me with your paltry emeralds you once
held the life of Perion in your hands?" Deme-
trios unfastened his sword. He grasped the hand
of Melicent, and laid it upon the scabbard. "And
what do you hold now, my wife ? You hold the
death of Perion. I take the antithesis to be a
neat one."
She answered nothing. Her seeming indiffer-
[63]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
ence angered him. Demetrios wrenched the
sword from its scabbard, with a hard violence
that made Melicent recoil. He showed the blade
all covered with grey symbols of which she could
make nothing.
"This is Flamberge," said the proconsul; "the
sword- which Galas made in our forefathers' hey-
day for Charlemaigne. Clerks declare it is a
magic weapon and that the man who wields it
is unconquerable. I do not know. I think it is
as difficult to believe in sorcery as it is to be en-
tirely sure of its non-existence. I very potently
believe, however, that with this sword I shall kill
Perion."
Melicent had plenty of patience, but astonish-
ingly little, it seemed, for this sort of speech. "I
think that you talk foolishly, seignior. And,
other matters apart, it is manifest that you your-
self concede Perion to be the better swordsman,
since you require to be abetted by sorcery before
you dare to face him."
"So, so I" Demetrios said, in a sort of grinding
[64]
FLAMBERGE IS DRAWN
whisper, "you think that I am not the equal of
this long-legged fellow ! You would think other-
wise if I had him here. You will think other-
wise when I have killed him with my naked hands.
Oh, very soon you will think otherwise."
He snarled, rage choking him, flung the sword
at her feet and quitted her without any leave-
taking. He had ridden three miles from Nacu-
mera before he began to laugh. He realised that
Melicent at least believed in sorcery and had
tricked him out of Flamberge by playing upon
his tetchy vanity. Her adroitness pleased him.
Demetrios did not laugh when he found Theo-
doret's fleet had been ingloriously repulsed at sea
by the Emir of Arsuf and had never effected a
landing. Demetrios picked a quarrel with the
victorious admiral and killed the marplot in a
public duel, but that was inadequate comfort.
"However," the proconsul reassured himself,
"if my wife reports at all truthfully as to this
Perion's nature it is certain that this Perion will
come again." Then Demetrios went into the sa-
[65]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
cred grove upon the hillsides south of Quesiton
and made an offering of myrtle-branches, rose-
leaves and incense to Aphrodite of Colias.
[66]
VII
HOW AHASUERUS WAS PATIENT
AHASUERUS came and went at will.
Nothing was known concerning this
soft-treading furtive man except by the
proconsul, who had no confidants. By his de-
cree Ahasuerus was an honoured guest at Nacu-
mera. And always the Jew's eyes when Meli-
cent was near him were as expressionless as the
eyes of a snake, which do not ever change.
Once she told Demetrios that she feared Ahasu-
erus.
"But I do not fear him, though I have larger
reason. For I alone of all men living know the
truth concerning this same Jew. Therefore, it
amuses me to think he is my factor and ciphers
over my accounts."
Demetrios laughed, and had the Jew sum-
moned. This was in the Women's Garden, where
the proconsul sat with Melicent in a little domed
pavilion of stone-work which was gilded with red
[67]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
gold and crowned with a cupola of alabaster. Its
pavement was of transparent glass, under which
were clear running waters wherein swam red and
yellow fish.
"It appears that you are a formidable person,
Ahasuerus. My wife here fears you."
"Splendour of the Age," returned the other,
quietly, "it is notorious that women have long hair
and short wits. There is no need to fear a Jew.
The Jew, I take it, was created in order that chil-
dren might evince their playfulness by stoning
him, the honest show their common sense by rob-
bing him, and the religious display their piety by
burning him. Who forbids it?"
"Ey, but my wife is a Christian and in conse-
quence worships a Jew." Demetrios reflected.
His dark eyes twinkled. "What is your opinion
concerning this other Jew, Ahasuerus ?"
"I know that he was the Messiah, Lord."
"And yet you do not worship him."
The Jew said: "It was not altogether wor-
ship he desired. He asked that men should love
him. He does not ask that of me."
[68]
AHASUERUS IS PATIENT
"I find that an obscure saying," Demetrios
considered.
"It is a true saying, King of Kings. In time
it will be made plain. That time is not yet come.
I used to pray it would come soon. Now I do not
pray any longer. I only wait."
Demetrios tugged at his chin, his eyes nar-
rowed, meditating. He laughed.
"It is no affair of mine. What am I that I am
called upon to have prejudices concerning the uni-
verse ? It is highly probable that there are gods
of some sort or another, but I do not so far flat-
ter myself as to consider that any possible god
would be at all interested in my opinion of him.
In any event, I am Demetrios. Let the worst
come, and in whatever baleful underworld I find
myself imprisoned I shall maintain myself there
in a manner not unworthy of Demetrios." The
proconsul shrugged at this point. "I do not find
you amusing, Ahasuerus. You may go."
"I hear and I obey," the Jew replied. He
went away patiently.
[69]
VIII
HOW DEMETRIOS WOOED
THEN Demetrios turned toward Melicent,
rejoicing that his chattel had golden hair
and was comely beyond comparison with
all other women he had ever seen.
Said Demetrios: "I love you, Melicent, and
you do not love me. Do not be offended because
my speech is harsh, for even though I know my
candour is distasteful I must speak the truth.
You have been obdurate too long, denying Kypris
what is due to her. I think that your brain is
giddy because of too much exulting in the mag-
nificence of your body and in the number of men
who have desired it to their own hurt. I concede
your beauty, yet what will it matter a hundred
years from now?
"I admit that my refrain is old. But it will
presently take on a more poignant meaning, be-
cause a hundred years from now you — even you,
[>o]
NOW DEMETRIOS WOOES
dear Melicent ! — and all the loveliness which now
causes me to estimate life as a light matter in
comparison with love, will be only a bone or two.
Your lustrous eyes, which are now more beauti-
ful than it is possible to express, will be un-
savoury holes and a worm will crawl through
them; and what will it matter a hundred years
from now?
"A hundred years from now should any one
break open our gilded tomb, he will find Melicent
to be no more admirable than Demetrios. One
skull is like another, and is as lightly split with a
mattock. Hail, rain and dew will drench us im-
partially when I lie at your side, as I intend to do,
for a hundred years and yet another hundred
years. You need not frown, for what will it
matter a hundred years from now ?
"Melicent, I offer love and a life that derides
the folly of all other manners of living ; and even
if you deny me, what will it matter a hundred
years from now?"
His face was violently contorted, his speech
had fervent bitterness, for even while he wooed
[71]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
the girl the man internally was raging over his
own infatuation.
And Melicent answered: "There can be no
question of love between us, seignior. You pur-
chased my body. My body is at your disposal un-
der God's will."
Demetrios sneered, his ardours cooled.
"I have already told you, my girl, I do not care
for that which can be purchased."
In such fashion Melicent abode among these
odious persons as a lily which is rooted in mire.
She was a prisoner always, and when Demetrios
came to Nacumera — which fell about irregularly,
for now arose much fighting between the Chris-
tians and the pagans — a gem which he uncased,
admired, curtly exulted in, and then, jeering at
those hot wishes in his heart, locked up untouched
when he went back to warfare.
To her the man was uniformly kind, if with a
sort of sneer she could not understand; and he
pillaged an infinity of Genoese and Venetian ships
— which were notoriously the richliest laden — of
[72]
NOW DEMETRIOS WOOES
jewels, veils, silks, furs, embroideries and figured
stuffs, wherewith to enhance the comeliness of
Melicent. It seemed an all-engulfing madness
with this despot daily to aggravate his fierce de-
sire of her, to nurture his obsession, so that he
might glory in the consciousness of treading
down no puny adversary.
Pride spurred him on as witches ride their
dupes to a foreknown destruction. "Let us have
patience," he would say.
Meanwhile his other wives peered from
screened alcoves at these two and duly hated Mel-
icent. "Let us have patience," they said also, but
with a meaning even more sinister.
[73]
PART THREE
DEMETRIOS
Of how Dame Melicenfs fond lovers go
As comrades, working each his fellow's woe:
Each hath unhorsed the other of the twain,
And knoweth that nowhither 'twixt Ukraine
And Ormus roameth any lion's son
More eager in the hunt than Per ion,
Nor any viper's sire more venomous
Through jealous hurt than is Demetrios.
HOW DEMETRIOS WAS TAKEN
IT is a tale which they narrate in Poictesme,
telling how war awoke and raged about the
province of Demetrios as tirelessly as waves
lapped at its shore. They tell also how the Comte
de la Foret (for the King of Cyprus ennobled
Perion after the latter's famous relief of the gar-
rison at Japhe) proved in these wars that Perion
had not his twin in Christendom.1
And the tale tells how Perion's skill in warfare
was leased to whatsoever lord would dare con-
tend against Demetrios and the proconsul's magic
sword Flamberge ; and how Perion of the Forest
did not inordinately concern himself as to the mer-
its of any quarrel, because of which battalions
died, so long as he fought toward Melicent.
Demetrios was thrilled with the heroic joy of an
1 Nicolas de Caen has here a minute account of four campaigns,
detailing all military and naval evolutions with a fullness which
verges upon prolixity. It appears expedient to omit this.
[771
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
athlete who finds that he unwittingly has grappled
with his equal.
Then, after many ups and downs of carnage,
Perion surprised the galley of Demetrios while
the proconsul slept at anchor in his own harbour
of Quesiton. Demetrios fought nakedly against
accoutred soldiers and had killed two of them
with his hands before he could be quieted by an
admiring Perion.
Demetrios by Perion's order was furnished
with a sword of ordinary attributes, and Perion
ridded himself of all defensive armour. The two
met like an encounter of tempests, and in the out-
come Demetrios was wounded so that he lay in-
sensible. Demetrios was taken as a prisoner
toward the domains of King Theodoret, third of
that name to rule, and once (as you have heard)
a wooer of Dame Melicent. Perion then served
this prince, who did not love him but found him
useful.
"Only you are my private capture," said Pe-
rion ; "conquered by my own hand and in fair fight.
Now I am unwilling to insult the most valiant
[78]
DEMETRIOS IS TAKEN
warrior whom I have known by valuing him too
cheaply, and I accordingly fix your ransom as the
person of Dame Melicent.,,
Demetrios bit his nails.
"Needs must," he said at last. "It is unneces-
sary to inform you that when my property is taken
from me I shall endeavour to regain it. I shall,
before the year is out, lay waste whatever prov-
ince harbours you. Meanwhile I warn you that
it is necessary to be speedy in this ransoming.
My other wives abhor the Frankish woman who
has supplanted them in my esteem. My son
Orestes, who succeeds me, will be guided by his
mother. Callistion has thrice endeavoured to kill
Melicent. If any harm befalls me, Callistion to
all intent will reign in Nacumera, and she will
not be satisfied with mere assassination. I can-
not guess what torment Callistion will devise, but
it will be no child's play — "
"Oh, infamy!" cried Perion. He had learned!
long ago how cunning the heathen were in such
cruelties, and so he shuddered.
Demetrios was silent. He, too, was fright-
[79]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
ened, because this despot knew — and none knew
better — that in his lordly house far oversea Callis-
tion would find equipment for a hundred curious
tortures.
"It has been difficult for me to tell you this,"
Demetrios then said, "because it savours of an
appeal to spare me. I think you will have gleaned
however, from our former encounters that I am
not unreasonably afraid of death. Also I think
that you love Melicent. For the rest, there is
no person in Nacumera so untutored as to cross
my least desire until my death is triply proven.
Accordingly, I that am Demetrios am willing to
entreat an oath that you will not permit Theo-
doret to kill me."
"I swear by God and all the laws of Rome — "
cried Perion.
"Ey, but I am not very popular in Rome,"
Demetrios interrupted. "I would prefer that you
swore by your love for Melicent. I would pre-
fer an oath which both of us may understand,
and I know of none other/'
[80]
DEMETRIOS IS TAKEN
So Perion swore as Demetrios requested, and
set about the conveyance of Demetrios into King
Theodoret's realm.
[81]
II
HOW THEY PRAISED MELICENT
THE conqueror and the conquered sat to-
gether upon the prow of Perion' s ship.
It was a warm, clear night, so brilliant
that the stars were invisible. Perion sighed.
Demetrios inquired the reason.
"It is the memory of a fair and noble lady,"
Perion answered, "that causes me to heave a sigh
from my inmost heart, Messire Demetrios. I
cannot forget that loveliness which had no par-
allel. Pardieu, her eyes were amethysts, her lips
were red as the berries of a holly-tree. Her hair
blazed in the light, bright as the sunflower glows ;
her skin was whiter than milk; the down of a
fledgling bird was not more grateful to the touch
than were her hands. Whoso beheld her was
fulfilled with love of Melicent.,,
Demetrios conceded, with his customary lazy
shrug: "She is still a brightly-coloured crea-
[82]
THEY £ RAISE MELICENT
ture, moves gracefully, has a sweet, drowsy voice,
and is as soft to the touch as rabbit's fur. There-
fore, it is imperative that one of us must cut the
other's throat. The deduction is perfectly logi-
cal." He yawned and added: "Yet I do not
know that my love for her is any greater than
my hatred. I rage against her patient tolerance
of me, and I am often tempted to disfigure, muti-
late, even to destroy this colourful, stupid woman,
who makes me wof ully ridiculous in my own eyes.
If Melicent were dead, it would be the happier for
Demetrios."
"When I first saw Dame Melicent," said Perion,
"the sea was languid, as if outworn by vain en-
deavours to rival the purple of her eyes. Sea-
birds were adrift in the air, very close to her,
and their movements were less graceful than hers.
She was attired in a robe of white silk, and about
her wrists were heavy bands of silver. A tiny wind
played truant in order to caress her unplaited
hair, because the wind was more hardy than I and
dared to love her. I did not think of love, I
thought only of the brave deeds I might have done
[83]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
and had not done. I thought of my unworthi-
ness, and it seemed to me that my soul writhed
like an eel in sunlight, a naked, despicable thing,
before the feet of Melicent."
Demetrios said: "When I first saw the girl
she knew herself entrapped, her body mine, her
life dependent on my whim. She waved aside
such petty inconveniences, bade them await an
hour when she had leisure to consider them, be-
cause nothing else was of any importance so long
as my porter went in chains. I was an obstacle
to her plans and nothing more; a pebble in her
shoe would have perturbed her about as much as
I did. Here at last, I thought, is genuine com-
mon sense — a clear-headed decision as to your
actual desire, apart from man-taught ethics, and
fearless purchase of it at any cost. Therein I
recognise something not unakin to Demetrios."
Said Perion: "Since she permits me to serve
her, I may not serve unworthily. To-morrow
I shall set new armies afield. To-morrow it will
delight me to see their tents rise in your mead-
ows, Messire Demetrios, and to see our followers
[84]
THEY E RAISE MELICENT
meet in clashing combat, by hundreds and thou-
sands, so mightily that men will sing of it when
we are gone. To-morrow one of us must kill the
other. To-night we drink our wine in amity. I
have not time to hate you, I have not time to like or
dislike any living person, I must devote all facul-
ties that heaven gave me to the love and service
of Melicent."
"To-night we babble to the stars and dream
vain dreams as other fools have done before us,"
Demetrios considered. "To-morrow rests with
heaven ; but, depend upon it, Messire de la Foret,
whatever we may do will be foolishly performed,
because we are both besotted by bright eyes and
lips and hair. I trust to find our antics laugha-
ble. Yet there is that in me which is murderous,"
Demetrios observed, "when I reflect that you and
she do not dislike me. It is the actual truth that
neither of you considers me to be worth the
trouble. I find such conduct irritating, because
no other persons have ever dared to deal in this
fashion with Demetrios."
[85]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Thus they would sit together nightly upon the
prow of Perion's ship and rhapsodise of Melicent
until the stars grew lustreless before the sun.
[86]
Ill
HOW PERION BRAVED THEODORET
THE city of Megaris (then Theodoret's
capital) was ablaze with bonfires on the
night that the Comte de la Foret entered
it at the head of his forces. Demetrios,
meanly clothed, his hands tied behind him,
trudged sullenly beside his conqueror's horse.
Yet of the two the gloomier face showed below the
count's coronet, for Perion did not relish the im-
pendent interview with King Theodoret. They
came thus amid much shouting to the Hotel
d'Ebelin, their assigned quarters, and slept there.
Next morning, about the hour of prime, two
men-at-arms accompanied a fettered Demetrios
into the presence of King Theodoret. Perion of
the Forest preceded them. He pardonably
swaggered, in spite of his underlying uneasiness,
for this last feat, as he could not ignore, was a
performance which Christendom united to ap-
plaud.
[87]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
They came thus into a spacious chamber, very
inadequately lighted. The walls were unhewn
stone. There was but one window, of uncoloured
glass; and it was guarded by iron bars. The
floor was bare of rushes. On one side was a bed
with tattered hangings of green, which were
adorned with rampant lions worked in silver
thread much tarnished; to the right hand stood
a prie-dieu. Between these isolated articles of
furniture and behind an unpainted table sat, in
a high-backed chair, a wizen and shabbily-clad
old man. This was Theodoret, most pious and
penurious of monarchs. In attendance upon him
were Fra Battista, prior of the Grey Monks, and
Melicent's near kinsman, once the Bishop, now
the Cardinal, de Montors, who, as was widely
known, was the actual monarch of this realm.
The latter was smartly habited as a cavalier and
showed in nothing like a churchman.
The infirm King arose and came to meet the
champion who had performed what many gener-
als of Christendom had vainly striven to achieve.
[88]
THEODORET IS BRAVED
He embraced the conqueror of Demetrios as one
does an equal.
Said Theodoret: "Hail, my fair friend! you
who have lopped the right arm of heathenry!
To-day, I know, the saints hold festival in heaven.
I cannot recompense you, since God alone is om-
nipotent. Yet ask now what you will, short of
my crown, and it is yours." The old man kissed
the chief of all his treasures, a bit of the True
Cross, which hung upon his breast supported by a
chain of gold.
"The King has spoken," Perion returned. "I
ask the life of Demetrios."
Theodoret recoiled, like a small flame which is
fluttered by its kindler's breath. He cackled
thinly.
"A jest or so is privileged in this high hour.
Yet we ought not to make a jest of matters which
concern the Church. Am I not right, Ayrart?
Oh, no, this merciless Demetrios is assuredly that
very Antichrist whose coming was foretold. I
must relinquish him to Mother Church, in order
[89]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
that he may be equitably tried, and be baptised —
since even he may have a soul — and afterward be
burned in the market-place."
"The King has spoken/' Perion replied. "I
too have spoken/'
There was a pause of horror upon the part of
King Theodoret. He was at first in a mere
whirl.
"You ask, in earnest, for the life of this Deme-
trios, this arch-foe of our Redeemer, this spawn
of Satan, who has sacked more of my towns than
I have fingers on this wasted hand! Now, now
that God has singularly favoured me — !" He
snarled and gibbered like a frenzied ape, and had
no longer the ability to articulate.
"Beau sire, I fought the man because he in-
famously held Dame Melicent, whom I serve in
this world without any reservation and trust to
serve in Paradise. His person, and this alone,
will ransom Melicent."
"You plan to loose this fiend!" the old king
cried. "To stir up all this butchery again !"
"Sire, pray recall how long I have loved Meli-
[90]
THEODORET IS BRAVED
cent. Reflect that if you slay Demetrios, Dame
Melicent will be left destitute in heathenry. Re-
member that she will be murdered through the
hatred of this man's other wives whom her in-
estimable beauty has supplanted." Thus Perion
entreated.
It was curious to note how, all this while, the
cardinal and the proconsul had appraised each
other. It was as though they two had been the
only persons in the dimly-lit apartment. They
had not met before. "Here is my match,"
thought each of these two ; "here if the world af-
fords it is my peer in cunning and bravery." And
each lusted for a contest, and with something of
mutual comprehension.
In consequence they stinted pity for Theodoret,
who unfeignedly believed that whether he kept
or broke his recent oath damnation was inevita-
ble. "You have been ill-advised — " he stam-
mered. "I do not dare release Demetrios —
My soul would answer that enormity — But it
was sworn upon the Cross — Oh, ruin either
way ! Come now, my gallant captain," the King
.[91]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
barked. "I have gold, lands, and jewels — "
"Beau sire, I have loved this my dearest lady
since the time when both of us were little more
than children, and each day of the year my love
for her has been doubled. What would it avail
me to live in however lofty estate when I cannot
daily see the treasure of my life ?"
And now the Cardinal de Montors interrupted,
and his voice was to the ear as silk is to the fin-
gers.
"Beau sire/' said Ayrart de Montors, "I speak
in all appropriate respect. But you have sworn
an oath which no man living may presume to vio-
late."
"Oh, true, Ayrart!" the fluttered King as-
sented. "This blusterer holds me as in a vise."
He turned to Perion, fierce, tense and fragile,
like an angered cat. "Choose now ! I will make
you the wealthiest person in my realm — My
son, I warn you that since Adam's time women
have been the devil's peculiar bait. See now, I
am not angry. Heh, I remember, too, how beau-
tiful she was. I was once tempted much as you
[92]
THEODORET IS BRAVED
are tempted. So I pardon you. I will give you
my daughter Ermengarde in marriage, I will
make you my heir, I will give you half my king-
dom— " His voice rose, quavering; and it died
now, for he foreread the damnation of Theo-
doret's soul even while he fawned before an im-
passive Perion.
"Since Love has taken up his abode within my
heart," said Perion, "there has not ever been a
vacancy therein for any other thought. How
may I help it if Love recompenses my hospitality
by afflicting me with a desire which can neither
subdue the world nor be subdued by it?"
Theodoret's reply was like the rustle of dead
leaves.
"Else I must keep my oath. In that event you
may depart with this unbeliever. I will accord
you twenty-four hours wherein to accomplish this.
But, oh, if I lay hands upon either of you within
the twenty-fifth hour I will not kill my prisoner
at once. For first I must devise unheard-of tor*
ments — " The King's face was not agreeable to
look upon.
[93]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Yet Perion encountered it with an untroubled
gaze until Battista spoke.
"I promise worse. The Book will be cast down,
the bells be tolled, and all the candles snuffed —
ah, very soon !" He licked his lips, gingerly, just
as a cat does.
Then Perion was moved, since excommunica-
tion is more terrible than death to any of the
Church's loyal children, and he was now more
frightened than the King. And so Perion
thought of Melicent a while before he spoke.
Said Perion: "I choose. I choose Deme-
trios."
"Go !" the King said. "Go hence, blasphemer.
Hah, you will weep because of this in hell. I
pray that I may hear you then, and laugh as I
do now — "
He went away, and was followed by Battista,
who whispered of a makeshift. The cardinal re-
mained and saw to it that the chains were taken
from Demetrios.
"In consequence of Messire de la Foret's — as
I must term it — most unchristian decision," said
[94]
THEODORET IS BRAVED
the cardinal, "it is not impossible, Messire the
Proconsul, that I may head the next assault upon
your territory — "
Demetrios laughed.
"I dare to promise your Eminence that recep-
tion you would most enjoy."
"I had hoped for as much," the cardinal re-
turned; and he too laughed. To do him justice,
he did not know of Battista's makeshift.
The cardinal remained when they had gone.
Seated in a king's chair, Ayrart de Montors med-
itated rather wistfully upon that old time when
he, also, had loved Melicent whole-heartedly. It
seemed a great while ago, made him aware of his
maturity.
He had put love out of his life in common with
all other weaknesses which might conceivably
hinder the advancement of Ayrart de Montors.
In consequence, he had climbed far. He was not
dissatisfied. It was a man's business to make his
way in the world, and he had done so.
"My cousin is a brave girl, though," he said
[95]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
aloud, "I must certainly do what I can to effect
her rescue as soon as it is convenient to send an-
other expedition against Demetrios.,,
Then the cardinal set about concoction of a
moving sonnet in praise of Monna Vittoria de'
Pazzi. Desperation loaned him extraordinary
eloquence (as he complacently reflected) in ad-
dressing this obdurate woman, who had held out
against his love-making for six weeks now.
[96]
IV
HOW PERION FOUGHT IN SANNAZARO
DEMETRIOS and Perion, by the quick
turn of fortune previously recorded,
were allied against all Christendom.
They got arms at the Hotel d'Ebelin and rode out
of the city of Megaris, where the bonfires lighted
over-night in Perion's honour were still smoulder-
ing, amid loud execrations. Fra Battista had not
delayed to spread the news of King Theodoret's
dilemma. The burghers yelled menaces; but,
knowing that an endeavour to constrain the pas-
sage of these champions would prove unwhole-
some for at least a dozen of the arrestors, they
cannily confined their malice to a vocal demonstra-
tion.
Demetrios rode unhelmeted, intending that
these snarling little people of Megaris should
plainly see the man whom they most feared and
hated.
[97]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
It was Perion who spoke first. They had
passed the city walls, and had mounted the hill
which leads toward the Forest of Sannazaro.
Their road lay through a rocky pass above which
the leaves of spring were like sparse traceries on a
blue cupola, for April had not come as yet.
"I meant," said Perion, "to hold you as the ran-
som of Dame Melicent. I fear that is impossible.
I, who am a landless man, have neither servitors
nor any castle wherein to retain you as a prisoner.
I earnestly desire to kill you, and forthwith, in
single combat; but when your son Orestes
knows that you are dead he will, as you report,
kill Melicent. And yet it may be you are
lying."
Perion was of a tall imperious person, and long
accustomed to command. He had black hair,
grey eyes which challenged you, and a thin pleas-
ant face which was not pleasant now.
"You know that I am not a coward — " Deme-
trios began.
"Indeed," said Perion, "I believe you to be the
hardiest warrior in the world."
[98]
NOW PERION FIGHTS
"Therefore I may without dishonour repeat to
you that my death involves the death of Melicent.
Orestes hates her for his mother's sake. I think
that each of us knows I do not fear death, since
we have fought so often. I grant I had Flam-
berge to wield, a magic weapon — " Demetrios
shook himself, like a dog coming from the water,
for to consider an extraneous invincibility was
nauseous. "However ! I that am Demetrios pro-
test I will not fight with you, that I will accept
any insult rather than risk my life in any quarrel
extant, since when Orestes knows I am no longer
to be feared he will take vengeance on Dame Meli-
cent."
"Prove this!" said Perion, and with delibera-
tion he struck Demetrios. Full in the face he
struck the swart proconsul, and in the ensuing
silence you could hear a feeble breeze that strayed
about the tree-tops, but nothing else. And
Perion, strong man, the willing scourge of heath-
endom, had half a mind to weep.
Demetrios had not moved a finger. It was ap-
palling. The proconsul's countenance had
[99]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
throughout the hue of wood-ashes, but his fixed
eyes were like blown embers.
"I believe that it is proved," said Demetrios,
"since both of us are still alive." He whispered
this.
"In fact the thing is settled," Perion agreed.
"I know that nothing save your love for Melicent
could possibly induce you to decline a proffered
battle. When Demetrios enacts the poltroon I
am the most hasty of all men living to assert that
the excellency of his reason is indisputable. Let
us get on ! I have only five hundred sequins, but
this will be enough to buy your passage back to
Quesiton. And inasmuch as we are near the
coast — "
"I think some others mean to have a spoon in
that broth," Demetrios returned. " For look,
messire!"
Perion saw that far beneath them a company
of retainers in white and purple were spurring
up the hill. "It is Duke Raimond's livery," said
Perion.
Demetrios gloried in his ruin.
[100]
NOW PERION FIGHTS
"Pious Theodoret has sworn a truce of twenty-
four hours, and in consequence might not send
any of his own lackeys after us. But there was
nothing to prevent the dropping of a hint into
the ear of his brother-in-law, because you ser-
vitors of Christ excel in these distinctions."
"This is hardly an opportunity for theological
debate," Perion considered. "And for the rest,
time presses. It is your instant business to es-
cape." He gave his tiny bag of gold to his chief
enemy. "Make for Narenta. It is a free city
and unfriendly to Theodoret. If I survive I will
come presently and fight with you for Melicent."
"I shall do nothing of the sort," Demetrios
equably returned. "Am I the person to permit
the man whom I most hate — you who have struck
me and yet live! — to fight alone against some
twenty adversaries ! Oh, no, I shall remain, since
after all, there are only twenty."
"I was mistaken in you," Perion replied, "for
I had thought you loved Dame Melicent as I do.
I find too late that you would estimate your pri-
vate honour as set against her welfare."
[IOI]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
The two men looked upon each other. Long
and long they looked, and each was elated. "I
comprehend/' Demetrios said. He clapped spurs
to his horse and fled as a coward would have done.
This was one occasion in his life when he over-
came his pride, and should in consequence be
noted.
The heart of Perion was glad.
"Oh, but at times/' said Perion, "I wish that
I might honourably love this infamous proconsul."
Afterward he wheeled and met Duke Raimond's
men. Then like a reaper cutting a field of wheat
Sire Perion showed the sun his sword and went
about his work, and not without harvesting.
In that narrow way nothing could be heard but
the striking of blows on armour and the clash of
swords which bit at one another. The Comte de
la Foret, for once, allowed himself the privilege
of fighting in anger. He went without a word
toward this hopeless encounter, as a drunkard to
his bottle. First Perion killed Ruggiero of the
Lamberti and after that Perion raged as a wolf
[102]
NOW PERION FIGHTS
harrying sheep. Six other stalwart men he cut
down like a dumb maniac among tapestries. His
horse was slain and lay blocking the road, making
a barrier behind which Perion fought. Then Pe-
rion encountered Giacomo di Forio, and while the
two contended Gulio the Red very warily cast his
sword like a spear so that it penetrated Perion's
left shoulder and drew much blood. This ham-
pered the lone champion. Then Marzio threw a
stone which struck on Perion's crest and broke
the fastenings of Perion's helmet. Instantly Gia-
como gave him three wounds, and Perion stum-
bled, the sunlight glossing his hair. He fell and
they took him. They robbed the corpses of their
surcoats, which they tore in strips. They made
ropes of this bloodied finery, and with these ropes
they bound Perion of the Forest, whom twenty
men had conquered finally.
He laughed like a person bedrugged ; but in the
midst of this superfluous defiance Perion swooned
because of many injuries. He knew that with
fair luck Demetrios had a sufficient start. His
[103]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
heart exulted, thinking that Melicent was saved.
It was the happier for him he was not ever des-
tined to comprehend the standards of Demetrios.
[104]
HOW DEMETRIOS MEDITATED
DEMETRIOS came without any hin-
drance into Narenta, a free city. He
believed his Emperor must have sent
galleys toward Christendom to get tidings of his
generalissimo, but in this city of merchants De-
metrios heard no report of them. Yet in the har-
bour he found a trading-ship prepared for traffic
in the country of the pagans ; the sail was naked
to the wind, and the anchor-chain was already
shortened at the bow. Demetrios bargained with
the captain of this vessel, and in the outcome paid
him four hundred sequins. In exchange the man
agreed to touch at the Needle of Ansignano that
afternoon and take Demetrios aboard. Since the
proconsul had no passport, he could not with
safety endeavour to elude those officers of the
Tribunal who must endorse their passage at
Piaja.
[105]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Thus about sunset Demetrios waited the ship's
coming, alone upon the Needle. This promontory
is like a Titan's finger of black rock thrust out
into the water. The day was perishing, and the
querulous sea before Demetrios was an unresting
welter of gold and blood.
He thought of how he had won safely through
a horde of dangers, and the gross man chuckled.
He considered the unquestioned rulership of ev-
ery person near Demetrios which awaited him
oversea, and chiefly he thought of Melicent whom
he loved even better than he did the power to
sneer at everything the world contained. And
the proconsul chuckled.
"For I owe very much to Messire de la Foret,"
he said aloud. "I owe far more than I can esti-
mate. For by this those lackeys will have slain
Messire de la Foret or else they will have taken
Messire de la Foret to King Theodoret, who will
piously make an end of him. And either way, I
shall enjoy tranquillity and shall possess my Meli-
cent until I die. Decidedly, I owe a deal to this
self-satisfied tall fool."
[106]
DEMETRIOS MEDITATES
Thus he contended with his irritation. It may-
be that the man was never sane ; it is certain that
the mainspring of his least action was an inor-
dinate pride. Now hatred quickened, spreading
from a flicker of distaste; and his faculties were
stupefied, as though he faced a girdling conflagra-
tion. It was not possible to hate adequately this
Perion who had struck Demetrios of Anatolia
and perhaps was not yet dead; nor could Deme-
trios think of any sufficing requital for this Perion
who dared to be so young and handsome when
many other people were neither, this Perion
whom Melicent had loved and loved to-day. And
Demetrios of Anatolia had fought with a charmed
sword against a person such as this, safe as an
angler matched against a minnow; and Deme-
trios of Anatolia, now at the last, accepted alms
from what had been until to-day a pertinacious
gnat. Demetrios was physically shaken by dis-
gust at the situation, and in the sunset's glare his
swarthy countenance showed like that of Belial
among the damned.
"The life of Melicent hangs on my safe return
[107]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
to Nacumera. . . . Ey, what is that to me!" the
proconsul cried aloud. "The thought of Melicent
is sweeter than the thought of any god. It is not
sweet enough to bribe me into living as this Pe-
rion's debtor."
So when the ship touched at the Needle, a half-
hour later, that spur of rock was vacant. Deme-
trios had untethered his horse, had thrown away
his sword and other armour, and had torn his
garments ; afterward he rolled in the first puddle
he discovered. Thus he set out afoot, in grimy
rags — for no one marks a beggar upon the high-
way— and thus he came again into the realm of
King Theodoret, where certainly it did not occur
to anybody to look for him.
With the advantage of a quiet advent, as was
quickly proven, he found no check for a notorious
leave-taking.
[108]
VI
HOW A MINSTREL CAME TO SAN ALESSANDRO
DEMETRIOS came to Megaris where
Perion lay fettered in the Castle of San'
Alessandro, then a new building. Pe-
rion's trial, condemnation, and so on, had con-
sumed the better part of an hour, on account of
the drunkenness of one of the Inquisitors, who
had vexatiously impeded these formalities by
singing love-songs; but in the end it had been
salutarily arranged that the Comte de la Foret be
torn apart by four horses upon the St. Richard's
day ensuing.
Demetrios, having gleaned this knowledge in a
pothouse, purchased a stout file, a scarlet cap and
a lute. Ambrogio Bracciolini, head-gaoler at the
fortress — so the gossips told Demetrios — had
been a jongleur in youth, and minstrels were al-
ways welcome guests at San' Alessandro.
The gaoler was a very fat man with icy little
[109]
THE SOUL OF M E L I C E N T
eyes. Demetrios took his measure to a hair's
breadth as this Bracciolini straddled in the door-
way.
Demetrios had assumed an admirable air of
simplicity.
"God give you joy, messire," he said, with a
simper ; "I come bringing a precious balsam which
cures all sorts of ills, and heals the troubles both
of body and mind. For what is better than to
have a pleasant companion to sing and tell merry
tales, songs and facetious histories ?"
"You appear to be something of a fool/' Brac-
ciolini considered, "but all do not sleep who snore.
Come, tell me what are your accomplishments."
"I can play the lute, the violin, the flageolet,
the harp, the syrinx and the regals," the other
replied; "also the Spanish penola that is struck
with a quill, the organistrum that a wheel turns
round, the wait so delightful, the rebeck so en-
chanting, the little gigue that chirps up on high,
and the great horn that booms like thunder."
Bracciolini said: "That is something. But
can you throw knives into the air and catch them
[no]
A MINSTREL COMES
without cutting your fingers? Can you balance
chairs and do tricks with string? or imitate the
cries of birds? or throw a somersault and walk
on your head? Ha, I thought not. The Gay
Science is dying out, and young practitioners neg-
lect these subtile points. It was not so in my
day. However, you may come in."
So when night fell Demetrios and Bracciolini
sat snug and sang of love, of joy, and arms. The
fire burned bright and the floor was well covered
with gaily tinted mats. White wines and red
were on the table.
Presently they turned to canzons of a more in-
decorous nature. Demetrios sang the loves of
Douzi and Ishtar, which the gaoler found re-
markable. He said so and crossed himself.
"Man, man, you must have been afishing in the
mid-pit of hell to net such filth."
"I learned it in Nacumera," said Demetrios,
"when I was a prisoner there with Messire de
la Foret. It was a favourite song of his."
"Ay?" said Bracciolini. He looked at Deme-
trios very hard and pursed his lips as if to whistle.
[in]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
The gaoler scented a bribe from afar, but the face
of Demetrios was all vacant cheerfulness.
Bracciolini said, idly: "So you served under
him? I remember that he was taken by the
heathen. A woman ransomed him, they say."
Demetrios, able to tell a tale against any man,
told now the tale of Melicent's immolation, speak-
ing with vivacity and truthfulness in all points
save that he represented himself to have been one
of the ransomed Free Companions.
Bracciolini's careful epilogue was that the pro-
consul had acted foolishly in not keeping the em-
eralds.
"He gave his enemy a weapon against him,"
Bracciolini said, and waited.
"Oh, but that weapon was never used. Sire
Perion found service at once under King Theo-
doret, you will remember. Therefore Sire Pe-
rion hid away these emeralds against future need
— under an oak in Sannazaro, he told me. I sup-
pose they lie there yet."
"Humph !" said Bracciolini. He was silent for
a while. Demetrios was adjusting the strings
[112]
A MINSTREL COMES
of the lute, not looking at him. "There were
eighteen of them, you tell me? and all fine
stones ?"
"Ey? — oh, the emeralds? Yes, they were
flawless, messire. The smallest was larger than
a robin's egg. But I recall another song we
learned at Nacumera — "
Demetrios sang the loves of Lucius and Fotis.
Bracciolini grunted, "Admirable" in an ab-
stracted fashion, muttered something about the
duties of his office, and left the room. Demetrios
heard him lock the door outside and waited stol-
idly.
Presently Bracciolini returned in full armour,
a naked sword in his hand.
"My man," — and his voice rasped — "I believe
you to be a rogue. I believe that you are con-
triving the escape of this infamous Comte de la
Foret. I believe you are attempting to bribe me
into conniving at his escape. I shall do nothing
of the sort, because in the first place, it would be
an abominable violation of my oath of office, and
in the second, it would result in my being hanged."
["3]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
"Messire, I swear to you — !" Demetrios cried,
in excellently feigned perturbation.
"And in addition, I believe you have lied to
me throughout. I do not believe you ever saw
this Comte de la Foret. I very certainly do not
believe you are a friend of this Comte de la
Foret's, because in that event you would never
have been mad enough to admit it. The state-
ment is enough to hang you twice over. In short,
the only thing I can be certain of is that you are
out of your wits."
"They say that I am moonstruck," Demetrios
answered ; "but I will tell you a secret. There is
a wisdom lies beyond the moon, and it is because
of this that the stars are glad and admirable."
"That appears to me to be nonsense," the gaoler
commented ; and he went on : "Now I am going
to confront you with Messire de la Foret. If
your story prove to be false, it will be the worse
for you."
"It is a true tale. But sensible men close the
door to him who always speaks the truth."
"These reflections are not to the purpose,"
["4]
A MINSTREL COMES
Bracciolini submitted, and continued his argu-
ment: "In that event Messire de la Foret will
undoubtedly be moved by your fidelity in having
sought him out whom all the rest of the world
j|ias forsaken. You will remember that this same
idelity has touched me to such an extent that I
am granting you an interview with your former
master. He will also reflect that a man once
torn in four pieces has no particular use for em-
eralds. He will, I repeat, be moved. In his emo-
tion, in his gratitude, he will probably reveal to
you the location of those eighteen stones, all flaw-
less. If he should not evince a sufficiency of
natural gratitude, I tell you candidly, it will be the
worse for you. And now get on."
He pointed the way and Demetrios cringed
through the door. Bracciolini followed with
drawn sword. The corridors were deserted.
The head-gaoler had seen to that.
His position was simple. Armed, he was cer-
tainly not afraid of any combination between a
weaponless man and a fettered one. If this
jongleur had lied to him, Bracciolini meant to kill
[ii5]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
him for his insolence. Bracciolini's own haphaz-
ard youth had taught him that a jongleur had no
civil rights, was a creature to be beaten, robbed,
or stabbed with impunity.
• Upon the other hand, if the man's tale were
true, one of two things would happen. Either
Perion would not be brought to tell where the
emeralds were hidden, in which event Bracciolini
would kill the jongleur for his bungling; or else
the prisoner would tell everything necessary, in
which event Bracciolini would kill the jongleur
for knowing more than was convenient. This
Bracciolini had an honest respect for gems and
considered them to be equally misplaced when
under an oak or in a vagabond's wallet.
Consideration of such avarice may possibly
have heartened Demetrios when the well-ar-
moured gaoler knelt in order to unlock the door
of Perion's cell. As an asp leaps, the big and
supple hands of the proconsul gripped Braccio-
lini's neck from behind and silenced speech.
Demetrios, who was not tall, lifted the gaoler
as high as possible, lest the beating of armoured
[116]
A MINSTREL COMES
feet upon the slabs disturb any of the other keep-
ers, and strangled his dupe painstakingly. The
keys, as Demetrios reflected, were luckily at-
tached to the belt of this writhing thing, and in
consequence had not jangled on the floor. It was
an inaudible affair and consumed in all some ten
minutes.
["7]
VII
HOW THEY CRIED QUITS
DEMETRIOS went into Perion's cell and
filed away the chains of Perion of the
Forest. Demetrios thrust the gaoler's
corpse under the bed and washed away all stains
before the door of the cell, so that no awkward
traces might remain. Demetrios locked the
door of an unoccupied apartment and grinned as
Old Legion must have done when Judas fell.
More thanks to Bracciolini's precautions, these
two got safely from the confines of San' Alessan-
dro and afterward from the city of Megaris.
They trudged on a familiar road. Perion would
have spoken, but Demetrios growled, "Not now,
messire." They came by night to that pass in
Sannazaro which Perion had held against a score
of men-at-arms.
Demetrios turned. Moonlight illuminated
their faces and showed the face of Demetrios as
[118]
NOW THEY CRY QUITS
sly and leering. It was less the countenance of
a proud lord than a carved head on some old
water-spout. "Messire de la Foret," Demetrios
said, "now we cry quits. Here our ways part till
one of us has killed the other, as one of us must
surely do."
You saw that Perion was tremulous because of
his fury. "You knave," he said, "out of your
pride you have imperilled your accursed life —
your life on which the life of Melicent depends!
You must need delay and rescue me, while your
spawn inflicted hideous infamies on Melicent!
Oh, I had never hated you until to-night !"
Demetrios was pleased.
"Behold the increment," he said, "of the turned
cheek. Be satisfied, O young and zealous ser-
vitor of Love ! I am alone, unarmed and penni-
less, among a people whom I have never been at
pains even to despise. Presently I shall be taken
by this vermin, and afterward I shall be burned
alive. Theodoret is quite resolved to make of
me a candle which will light his way to heaven."
The two men talked together, leagued against
[up]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
all Christendom. Demetrios had thirty sequins
and Perion nothing at all. Then Perion showed
the ring which Melicent had given him, as a love-
token, long ago, when she was young and igno-
rant of misery. He valued it as he did nothing
else.
"Oh, very dear to me is this dear ring which
once touched a finger of that dear young Melicent
whom you know nothing of ! Its gold is my lost
youth, the gems of it are the tears she has shed
because of me. Kiss it, Messire Demetrios, as I
do now for the last time. It is a favour you have
earned."
Then these two went as mendicants — for no
one marks a beggar upon the highway — into Na-
renta, and sold this ring, in order that Demetrios
might be conveyed oversea and that the life of
Melicent might be preserved. They found an-
other vessel which was about to venture into
heathendom. Their gold was given to the cap-
tain; and, in exchange, the bargain ran, his ship
would touch at Assignano a little after the ensu-
ing dawn and take Demetrios aboard.
[120]
NOW THEY CRY QUITS
Thus the two lovers of Melicent foreplanned the
future and did not admit into account vagarious
Dame Chance.
[121]
/
VIII
HOW FLAMBERGE WAS LOST
THESE hunted men spent the following
night upon the Needle, since there it was
not possible for an adversary to surprise
them. Perion's was the earlier watch, until mid-
night, and during it Demetrios slept. Then the
proconsul took his equitable turn. When Perion
awakened the hour was after dawn.
What Perion noted first, and within thirty feet
of him, was a tall galley with blue and yellow
sails. He perceived that the promontory was
thronged with heathen sailors, who were unlad-
ing the ship of various bales and chests. Deme-
trios, now in the costume of his native country,
stood among them giving orders. And it
seemed, too, to Perion, in the moment of waking,
that Dame Melusine, whom Perion had loved so
long ago, stood among them; yet, now that he
rose and faced Demetrios, she was not visible any-
where, and Perion wondered dimly over his wild
[122]
'Demetrios stood among them giving orders"
NOW FLAMBERGE IS LOST
dream that she had been there at all. But more
importunate matters were in hand.
The proconsul grinned malevolently.
"This is a ship that once was mine/' he said.
"Do you not find it odd that Euthyclos here should
have loved me sufficiently to hazard his life in
order to come in search of me? Personally, I
find it extremely droll. For the rest, you slept
so soundly, Messire de la Foret, that I was un-
willing to waken you. Then, too, such was the
advice of a person who has some influence with
the water-folk, people say, and who was perhaps
the means of bringing this ship hither so oppor-
tunely. I do not know. She is gone now, you
see, intent as always on her own ends. Well,
well! her ways are not our ways, and it is wiser
not to meddle with them."
But Perion, unarmed and thus surrounded, un-
derstood only that he was lost.
"Messire Demetrios," he said, "I never thought
to ask a favour of you. I ask it now. For the
ring's sake, give me at least a knife, Messire
Demetrios. Let me die fighting.''
[123]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
"Why, but who spoke of fighting? For the
ring's sake, I have caused the ship to be rifled
of what valuables they had aboard. It is not
much, but it is all I have. And you are to ac-
cept my apologies for the miscellaneous nature
of the cargo, Messire de la Foret — consisting, as
it does, of armours and gems, camphor and am-
bergris, carpets of raw silk, teakwood and pre-
cious metals, rugs of Yemen leather, enamels, and
I hardly know what else besides. For Euthyclos,
as you will readily understand, was compelled to
masquerade as a merchant-trader."
Perion shook his head.
"You offer enough to make me a wealthy man.
But I would prefer a sword."
At that Demetrios grimaced.
"I had hoped to get off more cheaply." He un-
buckled the cross-handled sword which he now
wore and handed it to Perion. "This is Flam-
berge," he said, "that magic blade which Galas
made in our forefathers' heyday for Charle-
maigne. It is as dear to me as your ring was
to you. The man who wields it is reputed to be
[124]
NOW FLAMBERGE IS LOST
unconquerable. I do not know about that, but
in any event I yield Flamberge to you as a free
gift. I might have known it was the only gift
you would accept." His face lighted. "Come
presently and fight with me for Melicent. Per-
haps it will amuse me to ride out to battle and
know I shall not live to see the sunset. Already
it seems laughable that you will probably kill me
with this very sword which I am touching
now."
The champions faced each other, Demetrios in
a half-wistful mirth, and Perion in half-grudging
pity. Long and long they looked.
Demetrios shrugged.
"For such as I am, to love is dangerous. For
such as I am, nor fire nor meteor hurls a mightier
bolt than Aphrodite's shaft, or marks its passage
by more direful ruin. But you do not know Eu-
ripides?— a fidgety-footed liar, Messire the
Comte, who occasionally blunders into the clum-
siest truths. Yes, he is perfectly right ; all things
this goddess laughingly demolishes while she es-
says haphazard flights about the world as a bee
[125]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
does. And, like the bee, she wilfully dispenses
honey, and at other times a wound/ '
Said Perion, who was no scholar: "I glory
in our difference. For such as I am, love is suf-
ficient proof that man was fashioned in God's im-
age."
"Ey, there is no accounting for a taste in apho-
risms," Demetrios replied. He said, "Now I em-
bark/' Yet he delayed, and spoke with unac-
customed awkwardness. "Come, you who have
been generous till this ! will you compel me to de-
sert you here — quite penniless ?"
Said Perion: "I may accept a sword from
you. I do it gladly. But I may not accept any-
thing else."
"That would have been my answer. I am a
lucky man," Demetrios said, "to have provoked
an enemy so worthy of my opposition. We two
have fought an honest and notable duel, wherein
our weapons were not made of steel. I pray you
harry me as quickly as you may; and then we
will fight with swords till I am rid of you or you
of me."
[126]
NOW FLAMBERGE IS LOST
"Assuredly, I shall not fail you," answered Pe-
rion.
These two embraced and kissed each other.
Afterward Demetrios went into his own country,
and Perion remained, girt with the magic sword
Flamberge. It was not all at once Perion recol-
lected that the wearer of Flamberge is unconquer-
able, if ancient histories are to be believed, for in
deduction Perion was leisurely.
Now on a sudden he perceived that Demetrios,
out of his pride, had flung control of the future
to Perion, as one gives money to a sot, entirely
prescient of how it will be used. Perion had his
moment of bleak rage.
"I will not cog the dice to my advantage any
more than you!" said Perion. He drew the
sword of Charlemaigne and cast it from him as
far as even he could cast, and the sea swallowed
it. "Now God alone is arbiter !" cried Perion,
"and I am not afraid."
He stood a pauper and a friendless man. Be-
side his thigh hung a sorcerer's scabbard of blue
leather, curiously ornamented, but it was emptied.
[127]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Perion laughed exultingly because he was elate
with dreams of the future. And for the rest, he
was aware it is less grateful to remember plaudits
than to recall the exercise of that in us which is
not merely human.
[128]
IX
HOW PERION GOT UNEXPECTED AID
THEN Perion turned from the Needle of
Assignano, and went westward into the
Forest of Columbiers. He had no plan.
He wandered in the high woods that had never
yet been felled or ordered, as a beast does in
watchful care of hunters.
He came presently to a glade which the sun-
light flooded without obstruction. There was a
fountain in this place, which oozed from under
an iron-coloured boulder incrusted with grey
lichens and green moss. Upon the rock a woman
sat, her chin propped by one hand, and appeared
to consider remote and pleasant happenings.
She was clothed in white throughout, with metal
bands about her neck and arms ; and her loosened
hair, which was coloured like straw, and was as
pale as the hair of children, glittered about her,
[ 129 ]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
and shone frostily where it lay outspread upon the
rock behind her.
She turned to him without any haste or sur-
prise, and Perion saw that this woman was Dame
Melusine, whom he had loved to his own hurt
(as you have heard) when Perion served King
Helmas. She did not speak for a long while,
but lazily considered Perion's honest face in a
sort of whimsical regret for the adoration she no
longer found there.
"Then it was really you," he said, in wonder,
"whom I saw talking with Demetrios when I
awakened to-day."
"You may be sure," she answered, "that talk
was in no way injurious to you. Ah, no, had I
been elsewhere, Perion, I think you would have
been in Paradise by this." Then Melusine fell
again into meditation. "And so you do not any
longer either love or hate me, Perion?" Here
was an odd echo of the complaint Demetrios had
made.
"That I once loved you is a truth which neither
of us, I think, may ever quite forget," said Perion,
[130]
NOW PERION GETS AID
very quiet. "I alone know how utterly I loved
you — no, it was not I who loved you but a boy
that is dead now. King's daughter, all of stone,
O cruel woman and hateful, O sleek, smiling trait-
ress! to-day no man remembers how utterly I
loved you, for the years are as a mist between
the heart of that dead boy and me, so that I may
no longer see the boy's heart clearly. Yes, I have
forgotten much. . . . Yet even to-day there is
that in me which is faithful to you, and I cannot
give you the hatred which your treachery has
earned."
Melusine spoke shrewdly. She had a sweet,
shrill voice.
"But I loved you, Perion — oh, yes, in part I
loved you, just as one cannot help but love a large
and faithful mastiff. But you were tedious, you
annoyed me by your egotism. Yes, my friend,
you think too much of what you owe to Perion's
honour; you are perpetually squaring accounts
with heaven, and you are too intent on keeping
the balance in your favour to make a satisfactory
lover." You saw that Melusine was smiling in
[131]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
the shadow of her pale hair. "And yet you are
very droll when you are unhappy," she said, as
of two minds.
He answered: "I am, as heaven made me, a
being of mingled nature. So I remember with-
out distaste old happenings which now seem
scarcely true to me. I cannot quite believe that
it was you and I who were so happy when youth
was common to us. ... O Melusine, I have al-
most forgotten that if the world were searched
between the sunrise and the sunsetting the Melu-
sine I loved would not be found. I only know
that a woman has usurped the voice of Melusine,
and that this woman's eyes also are blue, and that
this woman smiles as Melusine was used to smile
when I was very young. I walk with ghosts,
king's daughter, and I am none the happier."
"Ay, Perion," she wisely answered, "for the
spring is at hand, intent upon an ageless magic.
I am no less comely than I was, and my heart,
I think, is tenderer. You are yet young, and you
are very beautiful, my brave mastiff. . . . And
neither of us is moved at all ! For us the spring
[132]
NOW PERION GETS AID
is only a dotard sorcerer who has forgotten the
spells of yesterday. I think that it is pitiable,
although I would not have it otherwise." She
waited, fairy-like and wanton, seeming to pre-
meditate a delicate mischief.
He answered, sighing, "No, I would not have
it otherwise."
Then presently Melusine arose.
"You are a hunted man, unarmed — oh, yes, I
know. Demetrios talked freely, having good and
ancient reasons to trust me. Besides, it was not
for nothing that Pressina was my mother, and I
know many things, pilfering light from the past
to shed it upon the future. Come now with me to
Brunbelois. I am too deeply in your debt, my
Perion. For the sake of that boy who is dead —
as you tell me — you may honourably accept of me
a horse, arms, and a purse, because I loved that
boy after my fashion."
"I take your bounty gladly," he replied;
and he added conscientiously: "I consider that
I am not at liberty to refuse of anybody any hon-
est means of serving my lady Melicent."
[133]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Melusine parted her lips as if about to speak,
and then seemed to think better of it. It is prob-
able she was already informed concerning Meli-
cent; she certainly asked no questions. Melu-
sine only shrugged, and laughed afterward, and
they turned toward Brunbelois. At times a shaft
of sunlight would fall on her pale hair and con-
vert it into silver, as these two went through
the high woods that had never yet been felled or
ordered.
[134]
PART FOUR
AHASUERUS
Of how a knave hath late compassion
On Melicenfs forlorn condition;
For ivhich he saith as ye shall after hear:
"Dame, since that game we play costeth too dear,
My truth I plight, I shall you no more grieve
By my behest, and here I take my leave
As of the fairest, truest and best wife
That ever yet I knew in all my life"
HOW DEMETRIOS HELD THE QUEEN S STAIRWAY
IT is a tale which they narrate in Poictesme,
telling how Demetrios returned into the
country of the pagans and found all matters
there as he had left them. They relate how
Melicent was summoned.
And the tale tells how upon the stairway by
which you descended from the Women's Garden
to the citadel — people called it the Queen's Stair-
way because it was builded by Queen Rudabeh
very long ago when the Emperor Zal held Na-
cumera — Demetrios waited with a naked sword.
Below were four of his soldiers, picked warriors.
This stairway was of white marble, and a sphinx
carved in green porphyry guarded each balus-
trade.
"Now that we have our audience/' Demetrios
said, "come, let the games begin."
One of the soldiers spoke. It was that Eu-
[137]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
thyclos who (as you have heard) had ventured
into Christendom to rescue the proconsul at the
hazard of his own life. He was a man of the
West Provinces and had followed Demetrios' for-
tunes since boyhood.
"King of the Age," cried Euthyclos, "it is
grim hearing that we must fight with you. But
since your will is our will, we must endure this
testing, although we find it bitter as aloes and
hot as coals. Dear lord and master, none has
put food to his lips for whose sake we would
harm you willingly, and we will weep to-night
when your ghost passes over and through us."
Demetrios answered: "Rise up and leave this
idleness. It is I that will clip the ends of my
hair to-night for the love of you, my stalwart
knaves. Such weeping as is done your wounds
will perform."
At that they addressed themselves to battle
and Melicent perceived she was witnessing
no child's play. The soldiers had attacked in
unison and before the onslaught Demetrios
stepped lightly back. But his sword flashed as
[138]
A STAIRWAY IS HELD
he moved, and with a grunt Demetrios, leaning
far forward, dug deep into the throat of his fore-
most assailant. The sword penetrated and
caught in a link of the gold chain about the fel-
low's neck, so that Demetrios was forced to
wrench the weapon free, twisting it, as the dying
man stumbled backward. Prostrate, he did not
cry out, but only writhed and gave a curious bub-
bling noise as his soul passed.
"Come," Demetrios said, "come now, you oth-
ers, and see what you can win of me. I warn
you it will be dearly purchased."
And Melicent turned away, hiding her eyes.
She was obscurely conscious that a wanton butch-
ery went on, hearing its blows and groans as
if from a great distance, while she entreated the
Virgin for deliverance from this foul place.
[139]
II
HOW DEMETRIOS STRUGGLED
THEN a hand fell upon Melicent's shoul-
der, rousing her. It was Demetrios.
He breathed quickly, but his voice was
gentle.
"It is enough," he said. "I shall not greatly
need Flamberge when I encounter that ruddy
innocent who is so dear to you."
He broke off. Then he spoke again, half jeer-
ing, half wistful.
"And I had hoped that you would look on and
admire my cunning at swordplay! I was anx-
ious to seem admirable somehow in your eyes.
... I failed. I know very well that I shall al-
ways fail. I know that Nacumera will fall, that
some day in your native land people will say
'That aged woman yonder was once the wife of
Demetrios of Anatolia who was pre-eminent
among the heathen/ Then they will tell of how
[140]
DEMETRIOS STRUGGLES
I cleft the head of an Emperor who had likened
me to Priapos and how I dragged his successor
from behind an arras where he hid from me, to set
him upon the throne I did not care to take; and
they will tell how for a while great fortune went
with me, and I ruled over much land and was
dreaded upon the wide sea and raised the battle-
cry in cities that were not my own, fearing no-
body. But you will not think of these matters,
you will think only of your children's ailments,
of baking and sewing and weaving tapestries,
and of directing little household tasks. And the
spider will spin her web in my helmet, which will
hang as a trophy in the hall of Messire de la
Foret."
Then he walked beside her into the Women's
Garden, keeping silence for a while. He seemed
to deliberate, to reach a decision. All at once
Demetrios began to tell of that magnanimous
contest which he had fought out in Theodoret's
country with Perion of the Forest.
"To do the long-legged fellow simple justice,"
said the proconsul, as epilogue, "there is no hard-
[Hi]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
ier knight alive. I shall always wonder whether
or no I would have spared him had the water-de-
mon's daughter not intervened in his behalf. Yes,
I have had some previous dealings with her.
Perhaps the less said concerning them, the bet-
ter." Demetrios reflected for a while, rather
sadly ; then his swart face cleared. "Give thanks,
my wife, that I have found an enemy who is not
unworthy of me. He will come soon, I think, and
we will fight to the death. I hunger for that
day."
Now praise of Perion, however worded, was
as wine to her. Demetrios saw as much, noted
how the colour in her cheeks augmented deli-
cately, how her eyes grew kindlier. It was his
cue. Thereafter Demetrios very often spoke of
Perion in that locked palace where no echo of
the outer world might penetrate except at the
proconsul's will. He told her, in an unfeigned
admiration, of Perion's courage and activity, de-
claring that no other captain since the days of
those famous generals, Hannibal and Joshua,
could lay claim to such pre-eminence in general
[142]
DEMETRIOS STRUGGLES
estimation; and he narrated how the Free Com-
panions had ridden through many kingdoms at
adventure, serving many lords with valour and
always fighting applaudably. To talk of Perion
delighted her ; it was with such bribes that Deme-
trios purchased where his riches did not avail;
and Melicent no longer avoided him.
There is scope here for compassion. The
man's love, if it be possible so to call that force
which mastered him, had come to be an incessant
malady. It poisoned everything, caused him to
find his statecraft tedious, his power profitless,
and his vices gloomy. But chief of all he fretted
over the standards by which the lives of Melicent
and Perion were guided. Demetrios thought
these criteria comely, he had discovered them to
be unshakable, and he despairingly knew that as
long as he trusted in the judgment heaven gave
him they must always appear to him supremely
idiotic. To bring Melicent to his own level or
to bring himself to hers was equally impossible.
There were times when he hated her.
Thus the months passed, and the happenings
[143]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
of a year were chronicled ; and as yet neither Pe-
rion nor Ayrart de Montors came to Nacumera,
and the long plain before the citadel stayed ten-
antless save for the jackals crying there at night.
"I wonder that my enemies do not come,"
Demetrios said. "It cannot be they have for-
gotten you and me. That is impossible." He
frowned and sent spies into Christendom.
[144]
Ill
HOW MISERY HELD NACUMERA
THEN one day Demetrios came to Meli-
cent in a surly rage.
"Rogues all!" he grumbled. "Oh, I
am wasted in this paltry age. Where are the
giants and tyrants, and stalwart single-hearted
champions of yesterday? Why, they are dead,
and have become rotten bones. I will fight no
longer. I will read legends instead, for life now-
adays is no longer worthy of love or hatred."
Melicent questioned him, and he told how his
spies reported that the Cardinal de Montors at
least would never head an expedition against
Demetrios' territories, having other matters in
hand. The Pope had died suddenly in the course
of the preceding October and it was necessary to
name his successor. The College of Cardinals
had reached no decision after three days' ballot-
ing. Then, as is notorious, Dame Melusine, as
[ 145 ]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
always hand in glove with Ayrart de Montors,
held conference with the bishop who inspected
the cardinals' dinner.
The Cardinal of Genoa received on the fourth
day a chicken stuffed with a deed to the palaces
of Monticello and Soriano ; the Cardinal of Parma
a similarly dressed fowl which made him master
of the bishop's residence at Porto with its furni-
ture and wine-cellar ; while the Cardinals Orsino,
Savelli, St. Angelo and Colonna were served
with food of the same appetising sort. There
was an end to indecision, and Ayrart de Montors
had presently ascended the papal throne under
the title of Adrian VII, servant to the servants
of God. His days of military captaincy were
over.
Demetrios deplored the loss of a formidable
adversary, and jeered at the fact that the vicar-
ship of heaven had been settled by six hens. But
he particularly fretted over other news his 'spies
had brought, which was the information that Pe-
rion had wedded Dame Melusine, and had begot-
ten two lusty children — Bertram and a daughter
[i46]
NOW NACUMERA IS HELD
called Blaniferte — and now enjoyed the opulence
and sovereignty of Brunbelois.
Demetrios told this unwillingly. He turned
away his eyes in speaking, and doggedly affected
to re-arrange a cushion, so that he might not see
the face of Melicent. She noted his action and
was grateful.
Demetrios said, bitterly: "It is an old and
tawdry history. He has forgotten you, Melicent,
as a wise man will always put aside the dreams
of his youth. To Cynara the Fates accord but
a few years; a wanton Lyce laughs, cheats her
adorers, and outlives the crow. There is an un-
intended moral here — " Demetrios said: "Yet
you do not forget."
"I know nothing of this Perion you tell me
of. I only know the Perion I loved has not for-
gotten/' answered Melicent.
And Demetrios, evincing a twinge like that of
gout, demanded her reasons. It was a May
morning, very hot and still, and they sat in the
Court of Stars.
Said Melicent: "It is not unlikely that the
[147]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Perion men know to-day has forgotten me and
one slight service which I joyed to render Perion.
Let him who would understand the mystery of
the Crucifixion first become a lover! I pray for
old sake's sake that Perion and his lady may
taste of every prosperity. Indeed, I do not envy
her. Rather I pity her, because last night I wan-
dered through a certain forest hand-in-hand with
a young Perion, whose excellencies she will never
know as I know them in our own woods."
Said Demetrios: "Do you console yourself
with dreams?" The swart man grinned.
"Now it is always twilight in these woods, and
the light there is neither green nor gold, but both
colours intermingled. It is like a friendly cloak
for all who have been unhappy, even very long
ago. Iseult is there, and Thisbe, too, and many
others, and they are not severed from their lovers
now. . . . Sometimes Dame Venus passes, rid-
ing upon a panther, and low-hanging leaves
clutch at her tender flesh. Then Perion and I
peep from a coppice and are very glad and a
little frightened in the heart of our own woods."
[i48]
NOW NACUMERA IS HELD
Said Demetrios: "Do you console yourself
with madness ?" He showed no sign of mirth.
"Ah, no, the Perion whom Melusine possesses is
but a man — a very happy man, I pray of God and
all His saints. I am the luckier, who may not
ever lose the Perion that to-day is mine alone.
And though I may not ever touch this younger
Perion's hands — even their palms were hard as
leather in that dear time now overpast — or see
again his honest and courageous face, the most
beautiful among all the faces of men and women
I have ever seen, I do not grieve immeasurably,
for nightly we walk hand-in-hand in our own
woods.
"Seignior, although the severing daylight en-
dures for a long while, I must be brave and
worthy of Perion's love — nay, rather of the love
he gave me once. I may not grieve so long as
no one else dares enter into our own woods."
"Now go," said the proconsul when she had
done, and he had noted her soft, deep, devoted
gaze at one who was not there; "now go before
I slay you !" And this new Demetrios whom she
[149]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
then saw was featured like a devil in sore tor-
ment.
Wonderingly Melicent obeyed him.
Thought Melicent, who was too proud to show
her anguish: "I could have borne aught else,
but this I am too cowardly to bear without com-
plaint. I am a very contemptible person. I
ought to love this Melusine, who no doubt loves
him quite as much as I do — how could she do
else? — and yet I cannot. I can only weep that I,
robbed of all joy and with no children to bewail
me, must travel very tediously toward death, a
friendless woman cursed by fate, while this Melu-
sine laughs with her children. She has two chil-
dren, as Demetrios reports. I think the boy must
be the more like Perion. I think she must be
very happy when she lifts that boy into her lap."
Thus Melicent; and her full-blooded husband
was not much more lighthearted. He went away
from Nacumera shortly, in a shaking rage which
robbed him of his hands' control, intent to kill
and pillage, and, in fine, to make all other per-
sons share his misery.
[150]
IV
I
HOW DEMETRIOS CRIED FAREWELL
AND then one day, when the proconsul
had been absent some six weeks, Aha-
suerus fetched Dame Melicent into the
Court of Stars. Demetrios lay upon the divan
supported by many pillows, as though he had not
ever stirred since that first day when an unfet-
tered Melicent, who was a princess then, exulted
in her youth and comeliness.
"Stand there," he said, and did not move at
all, "that I may see my purchase."
And presently he smiled, though wryly.
"Of my own will I purchased misery. Yea,
and death also. It is amusing. . . . Two days
ago, in a brief skirmish, a league north of Ca-
lonak, the Frankish leader met me hand to hand.
He has endeavoured to bring this about for a long
while. I also wished it. Nothing could be
sweeter than to feel the horse beneath me wading
[151]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
in his blood, I thought. . . . Ey, well, he dis-
mounted me at the first encounter, though I am
no weakling. I cannot understand quite how it
happened. Pious people will say some deity
was offended, but for my part, I think my horse
stumbled. It does not seem to matter now.
What really matters, more or less, is that it would
appear the man broke my backbone as one snaps
a straw, since I cannot move a limb of me below
the shoulders."
"Seignior," said Melicent, "you mean that you
are dying!"
He answered : "Yes, but it is a trivial discom-
fort, now I see that it grieves you a little."
She spoke his name some three times, sobbing.
It was in her mind even then how strange it was
that she should grieve for Demetrios.
"O Melicent," he harshly said, "let us have
done with lies. That Frankish captain who has
brought about my death is Perion de la Foret.
He has not ever faltered in the duel between us
since your paltry emeralds paid for his first arma-
ment.— Why, yes, I lied. I always hoped the
[152]
FAREWELL IS CRIED
man would do as in his place I would have done.
I hoped in vain. For many long and hard-
fought years this handsome maniac has been as-
sailing Nacumera, tirelessly. Then the water-
demon's daughter, that strange and wayward
woman of Brunbelois, attempted to ensnare
him. And that too was in vain. She failed, my
spies reported — even Dame Melusine, who had
not ever failed before in such endeavours."
"And why?" said Melicent. A glorious
change had come into her lovely face.
"Because of you. En cor gentil domnei per
mort no passa, as they sing in your native country.
Ey, how indomitably I lied, what pains I took, lest
you should ever know of this ! And now it does not
seem to matter any more. . . . The love this man
bears for you," snarled Demetrios, "is sprung
of the High God whom we diversely worship.
The love I bear you is only human, since I, too,
am only human." And Demetrios chuckled.
"Talk, and talk, and talk! There is no bird in
any last year's nest."
She laid her hand upon his unmoved hand, and
[153]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
found it cold and swollen. She wept to see the
broken tyrant, who to her at least had been not
all unkind.
He said, with a great hunger in his eyes : "So
likewise ends the duel which was fought between
us two. I would salute the victor if I could.
. . . Ey, Melicent, I still consider you and Perion
are fools. We have a not intolerable world to live
in, and common sense demands we make the most
of every tidbit it affords. Yet you can find in
it only an exercising-ground for infatuation, and
in all its contents — pleasures and pains alike —
only so many obstacles for rapt insanity to over-
ride. I do not understand this mania; I would
I might have known it, none the less. Always
I envied you more than I loved you. Always
my desire was less to win the love of Melicent
than to love Melicent as Melicent loved Perion.
I was incapable of this. Yet I have loved you.
That was the reason, I believe, I put aside my
purchased toy." It seemed to puzzle him.
"Fair friend, it is the most honourable of rea-
sons. You have done knightly. In this, at
[154]
FAREWELL IS CRIED
least, you have done that which would be not un-
worthy of Perion de la Foret." A woman
never avid for strained subtleties, it may be that
she never understood, quite, why Demetrios
laughed.
He said : "I mean to serve you now, as I had
always meant to serve you some day. Ey, yes,
I think I always meant to give you back to Perion
as a free gift. Meanwhile to see, and writhe in
seeing, your perfection has meant so much to
me that daily I have delayed such a transfigura-
tion of myself until to-morrow." The man
grimaced. "My son Orestes, who will pres-
ently succeed me, has been summoned. I will
order that he conduct you at once into Perion's
camp — yonder by Quesiton. I think I shall not
live three days."
"I would not leave you, friend, until — "
His grin was commentary and completion
equally.
"A dead dog has no teeth wherewith to serve
even virtue. Oh, no, my women hate you far
too greatly. You must go straightway to this
[iS5]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Perion, while Demetrios of Anatolia is alive, or
else not ever go."
She had no words. She wept, and less for
joy of winning home to Perion at last than for
her grief that Demetrios was dying. And,
woman-like, she could remember only that the
man had loved her in his fashion. And, woman-
like, she could but wonder at the strength of Pe-
rion.
Then Demetrios said: "I must depart into a
doubtful exile. I have been powerful and val-
iant, I have laughed loud, I have drunk deep,
but heaven no longer wishes Demetrios to exist.
I am unable to support my sadness, so near am
I to my departure from all I have loved. I cry
farewell to all diversions and sports, to well-
fought battles, to furred robes of vair and of silk,
to noisy merriment, to music, to vain-gloriously
coloured gems, and to brave deeds in open sun-
light ; for I desire — and I entreat of every person
■ — only compassion and pardon.
"Chiefly I grieve because I must leave Meli-
cent behind me, in a perilous land, abandoned to
[156]
FAREWELL IS CRIED
the mercy of all those who wish her ill. I was
a noted warrior, I was mighty of muscle, and I
could have defended her stoutly. But I lie
broken in the hand of Destiny. It is necessary
I depart into the place where sinners, whether
crowned or ragged, must seek for unearned
mercy. I cry farewell to all that I have loved,
to all that I have injured; and so in chief to you,
dear Melicent, I cry farewell, and of you in chief
I crave compassion and pardon.
"O eyes and hair and lips of Melicent, that I
have loved so long, I do not hunger for you now.
Yet, as a dying man, I cry to the clean soul of
Melicent — the only adversary that in all my life-
time I who was once Demetrios could never con-
quer. A ravening beast was I, and as a beast I
raged to see you so unlike me. And now, a dying
beast, I cry to you, but not for love, since that is
overpast. I cry for pity that I have not earned,
for pardon which I have not merited. Con-
quered and impotent, I cry to you, O soul of
Melicent, for compassion and pardon.
"Melicent, it may be that when I am dead,
[157]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
when nothing remains of Demetrios except his
tomb, you will comprehend I loved, even while I
hated, what is divine in you. Then since you
are a woman, you will lift your lover's face be-
tween your hands, as you have never lifted my
face, Melicent, and you will tell him of my folly
merrily; yet since you are a woman, you will
sigh afterward, and you will not deny me com-
passion and pardon."
She gave him both — she who was prodigal of
charity. Orestes came, with Ahasuerus at his
heels, and Demetrios sent Melicent into the Wom-
en's Garden, so that father and son might talk
together. She waited in this place for a half-
hour, just as the proconsul had commanded her,
consciously obeying him for the last time.
It was not gladness which Melicent knew for
a brief while. Rather, it was a strange new
comprehension of the world. To Melicent the
world seemed very lovely.
Indeed, the Women's Garden on this morning
lacked nothing to delight each sense. Its hedges
[158]
FAREWELL IS CRIED
were of flowering jessamine; its walkways were
spread with new sawdust tinged with crocus and
vermilion and with mica beaten into a powder ;
and it was rich in fruit-bearing trees and welling
waters. The sun shone, and birds chaunted mer-
rily to the right hand and to the left. Dog-
headed apes, sacred to the moon, were chattering
in the trees. There was a statue in this place,
carved out of black stone, in the likeness of a
woman, having enamelled eyes and three rows of
breasts, with the lower part of her body confined
in a sheath; and upon its glistening pedestal
chameleons sunned themselves with distended
throats. Round about Melicent were nodding
armaments of roses and gillyflowers and narcissi
and amaranths, and many violets and white lilies,
and other flowers of all kinds and colours.
To Melicent the world seemed very lovely.
Here was a world created by Eternal Love
that people might serve love in it not all unworth-
ily. Here were anguishes to be endured, and
time and human frailty and temporal hardship —
all for love to mock at; a sea or two for love to
[159]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
sever, a man-made law or so for love to override,
a shallow wisdom for love to deny, in exultance
that these ills at most were only corporal hin-
drances. This done, you have the right to come
— come hand-in-hand — to heaven whose liegelord
was Eternal Love.
Thus Melicent, who knew that Perion loved
her.
She did not dare to think of seeing Perion
again. She only made a little song in her clean
heart because of him, which had not any words
to it, so that it is not possible here to retail this
song.
Thus Melicent, who knew that Perion loved
her.
[160]
M
HOW ORESTES RULED
ELICENT returned into the Court of
Stars; and as she entered, Orestes
lifted one of the red cushions from
Demetrios' face. The eyes of Ahasuerus, who
stood by negligently, were as expressionless as
the eyes of a snake.
"The great proconsul laid an inconvenient
mandate upon me," said Orestes. "The great
proconsul has been removed from us in order
that his splendour may enhance the glories of
Elysium."
She saw that the young man had smothered
his own father in the flesh as he lay helpless ; and
knew thereby he was indeed the son of Deme-
trios.
"Go," this Orestes said thereafter ; "go, and re-
member I am master here."
Said Melicent: "And by which door?" A
little hope there was as yet.
[ 161 ]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
But he, as half in shame, had pointed to the
entrance of the Women's Garden. "I have no
enmity against you, outlander. Yet my mother
desires to talk with you. Also there is some bar-
gaining to be completed with Ahasuerus here."
Then Melicent knew what had prompted the
proconsul's murder. It seemed unfair Callistion
should hate her with such bitterness; yet she re-
membered certain thoughts concerning Dame
Melusine, and did not wonder at Callistion's mania
half so much as did Callistion's son.
"I must endure discomfort and it may be tor-
ture for a little longer," said Melicent, and
laughed whole-heartedly. "Oh, but to-day I find
a cure for every ill," said Melicent; and there-
upon she left Orestes as a princess should.
But first she knelt by that which yesterday had
been her master.
"I have no word of praise or blame to give
you in farewell. You were not admirable, Deme-
trios. But you depart upon a fearful journey,
and in my heart there is just memory of the long
years wherein according to your fashion you were
[162]
NOW ORESTES RULES
kind to me. A bargain is a bargain. I sold
with open eyes that which you purchased. I may
not reproach you."
Then Melicent lifted the dead face between her
hands, as mothers caress their boys in questioning
them.
"I would I had done this when you were
living,,, said Melicent, "because I understand
now that you loved me in your fashion. And I
pray that you may know I am the happiest woman
in the world, because I think this knowledge
would now gladden you. I go to slavery, Deme-
trios, where I was queen, I go to hardship, and
it may be that I go to death. But I have learned
this assuredly — that love endures, that the strong
knot which unites my heart and Perion's can
never be untied. Oh, living is a higher thing
than you or I had dreamed! And I have in my
heart just pity, poor Demetrios, for you who
never found the love of which I must endeavour
to be worthy. A curse was I to you unwillingly,
as you — I now believe — have been to me against
your will. So at the last I turn anew to bar-
[163]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
gaining and cry — in your deaf ears — Pardon for
pardon, O Demetrios!"
Then Melicent kissed pitiable lips which would
not ever sneer again, and, rising, passed into the
Women's Garden, proudly and unafraid.
Ahasuerus shrugged so patiently that she was
half afraid. Then, as a cloud passes, she saw
that all further bufferings would of necessity be
trivial. For Perion, as she now knew, was very
near to her — single of purpose, clean of hands,
and filled with such a love as thrilled her with
delicious fears of her own poor unworthiness.
[i64]
VI
HOW WOMEN TALKED TOGETHER
DAME MELICENT walked proudly
through the Women's Garden, and pres-
ently entered a grove of orange trees,
the most of which were at this season about
their flowering. In this place was an artificial
pool by which the trees were nourished. On its
embankment sprawled the body of young Dio-
phantus, a child of some ten years of age, Deme-
trios' son by Tryphera. Orestes had strangled
Diophantus in order that there might be no rival
to Orestes' claims. The lad lay on his back, and
his left arm hung elbow-deep in the water, which
swayed it gently.
Callistion sat beside the corpse and stroked its
limp right hand. She had hated the boy through-
out his brief and merry life. She thought now
of his likeness to Demetrios.
She raised the dilated eyes of one who has just
come from a dark place.
[165]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
"And so Demetrios is dead. I thought I would
be glad when I said that. Hah, it is strange I
am not glad."
She rose, as with hard effort, as a decrepit per-
son might have done. You saw that she was
dressed in a long gown of black, pleated to the
knees, having no clasp or girdle, and bare of
any ornamentation except a gold star on each
breast.
"Now, through my son, I reign in Nacumera.
There is no person who dares disobey me.
Therefore, come close to me that I may see the
beauty which besotted this Demetrios whom, I
think now, I must have loved."
"Oh, gaze your fill," said Melicent, "and know
that had you possessed a tithe of it you might
have held the heart of Demetrios." For it was
in Melicent's mind to provoke the woman into
killing her before worse befell.
But Callistion only studied the proud face for
a long while and knew there was no lovelier per-
son between two seas.
"No, I was not ever so beautiful as you. Yet
[166]
WOMEN TALK TOGETHER
this Demetrios loved me when I, too, was young.
You never saw the man in battle. I saw him,
single-handed, fight with Abradas and three other
knaves who stole me from my mother's home —
oh, very long ago! He killed all four of them.
He was like a horrible unconquerable god when
he turned from that finished fight to me. He
kissed me then — blood-smeared, just as he was.
... I like to think of how he laughed and of how
strong he was."
The woman turned and crouched by the dead
boy and seemed painstakingly to appraise her
own reflection on the water's surface.
"It is gone now, the comeliness Demetrios was
pleased to like. I would have waded Acheron
— and singing — rather than let his little finger
ache. He knew as much. Only it seemed a
trifle, because your eyes were bright and your
fair skin was unwrinkled. In consequence the
man is dead. Oh, Melicent, I wonder why I am
so sad 1"
Her meditative eyes were dry, but those of
Melicent were not. The girl came to the Dacian
[167]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
woman and put one arm about her in that dim,
sweet-scented place.
"I never meant to wrong you."
Callistion did not seem to heed.
"See now! Do you not see the difference be-
tween us !" These two knelt side by side by this,
and each looked into the water.
Callistion said : "I do not wonder that Deme-
trios loved you. He loved at odd times many
women. He loved the mother of this carrion
here. But afterward he would come back to me,
and lie asprawl at my feet with his big crafty
head between my knees; and I would stroke his
hair, and we would talk of the old days when we
were young. He never spoke of you. I cannot
pardon that."
"I know," said Melicent. Their cheeks
touched now.
"There is only one master who could teach you
that drear knowledge — "
"There is but one, Callistion."
"He would be tall, I think. He would, I know,
have thick, brown, curling hair — "
[168]
WOMEN TALK TOGETHER
"He has black hair, Callistion. It glistens like
a raven's wing."
"His face would be all pink and white, like
yours — "
"Nay, tanned like yours, Callistion. Oh, he
is like an eagle, very resolute. His glance be-
dwarfs you. I used to be afraid to look at him,
even when I saw how foolishly he loved me — "
"I know," Callistion said. "All women know.
Ah, we know many things — "
She reached with her free arm across the body
of Diophantus and presently dropped a stone into
the pool.
"See how the water ripples. There is not any
trace now either of my poor face or of your
beauty. All is as wavering as a man's heart.
. . . And now your beauty is regathering like
coloured mists. Yet I have other stones."
"Oh, and the will to use them!" said Dame
Melicent.
"For this bright thieving beauty is not any
longer yours. It is mine now, to do with as I
may elect — as yesterday it was the plaything of
[i69]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Demetrios. . . . Why, no ! I think I will not kill
you. I have at hand three very cunning Cheylas
— the men who carve and reshape children into
such droll monsters. They cannot change your
eyes, they tell me. It is a pity, but I can have
one plucked out. Then I will watch them as they
widen your mouth from ear to ear, take out the
cartilage from your nose, wither your hair till
it will always be like rotted hay, and turn your
skin — which is like velvet now — the colour of
baked mud. They will as deftly strip you of that
beauty which has robbed me as I pluck up this
blade of grass. . . . Oh, they will make you the
most hideous of living things, they assure me.
Otherwise, as they agree, I shall kill them. This
done, you may go freely to your lover. I fear,
though, lest you may not love him as I loved
Demetrios."
And Melicent said nothing.
"For all we women know, my sister, our ap-
pointed curse. To love the man and know the
man loves just the lips and eyes Youth lends to
us — oho, for such a little while ! Yes, it is cruel.
[170]
WOMEN TALK TOGETHER
And therefore we are cruel — always in thought
and, when occasion offers, in the deed."
And Melicent said nothing. For of that mu-
tual love she shared with Perion, so high and
splendid that it made of grief a music, and wrung
a new sustainment out of every cross, as men get
cordials of bitter herbs, she knew there was no
comprehension here.
[171]
VII
HOW MEN ORDERED MATTERS
ORESTES came into the garden with
Ahasuerus and nine other attendants.
The master of Nacumera did not speak
a syllable while his retainers seized Callistion,
gagged her, and tied her hands with cords. They
silently removed her. One among them bore on
his shoulders the slim corpse of Diophantus,
which was interred the same afternoon (with
every appropriate ceremony) in company with
that of his father. Orestes had the nicest sense
of etiquette.
This series of swift deeds was performed with
such a glib precipitancy it was as though the ac-
tion had been rehearsed a score of times. The
garden was all drowsy peace now that Orestes
spread his palms in a gesture of deprecation. A
little distance from him Ahasuerus with his fore-
finger drew upon the water's surface designs
which appeared to amuse him.
[172]
MEN ORDER MATTERS
"She would have killed you, Melicent," Orestes
said, "though all Olympus had marshalled in in-
terdiction. That would have been irreligious.
Moreover, by Hercules! I have not time to
choose sides between snarling women. He who
hunts with cats will catch mice. I aim more
highly. And besides, by an incredible forced
march, this Comte de la Foret and all his Free
Companions are battering at the gates of Nacu-
mera — "
Hope blazed. "You know that were I harmed
he would spare no one. Your troops are all at
Calonak. Oh, God is very good !" said Melicent.
"I do not asperse the deities of any nation.
It is unlucky. Yet your desires outpace your
reason. For grant that I had not more than
fifty men to defend the garrison, yet Nacumera
is impregnable except by starvation. We can sit
snug a month. Meanwhile our main force is at
Calonak undoubtedly. Yet my infatuated father
had already recalled these troops in order that
they might escort you into Messire de la Foret's
camp. Now I shall use these knaves quite other-
[ 173 ]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
wise. They will arrive within two days, and to
the rear of Messire de la Foret, who is encamped
before an impregnable fortress. To the front
unscalable walls, and behind him, at a moderate
computation, three swords to his one. All this in
a valley from which Daedalus might possibly es-
cape, but certainly no other man. I count this
Perion of the Forest as already dead."
It was a lumbering Orestes who proclaimed
each step in his enchained deductions by the de-
scent of a blunt forefinger upon the palm of his
left hand. Demetrios had left a son but not an
heir.
Yet the chain held. She tested every link and
found each obdurate. She foresaw it all. Pe-
rion would be surrounded and overpowered.
"And these troops come from Calonak because of
me!"
"Things fall about with an odd patness, as you
say. It should teach you not to talk about di-
vinities lightly. Also, by this Jew's advice, I
mean to further their indisputable work. For
you will appear upon the walls of Nacumera at
[174]
MEN ORDER MATTERS
dawn to-morrow in such a garb as you wore in
your native country when the Comte de la Foret
first saw you. Ahasuerus estimates he will not
readily leave pursuit of you in that event, what-
ever his lieutenants urge, for you are very beau-
tiful."
Melicent cried aloud: "A bitter curse this
beauty has been to me! ay, and to all men who
have desired it."
"But I do not desire it," said Orestes. "Else
I would not have sold it to Ahasuerus. I desire
only the governorship of some province on the
frontier where I may fight daily with stalwart ad-
versaries and ride past the homes of conquered
persons who hate me. Ahasuerus here assures
me that the Emperor will not deny me such em-
ployment when I bring him the head of Messire
de la Foret. The raids of Messire de la Foret
have irreligiously annoyed our Emperor for a
long while."
She muttered, "Thou that once wore a woman's
body—!"
"And I take Ahasuerus to be shrewd in all
[175]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
respects save one. For he desires trivialities.
A wise man knows that women are the sauce and
not the meat of life; Ahasuerus, therefore, is not
wise. And in consequence I do not lack a hand-
some bribe for this Bathyllos whom our good
Emperor — misguided man! — is weak enough to
love; my mother goes in chains; and I shall get
my province."
Here Orestes laughed. And thus the young
man left them.
[i76]
VIII
HOW AHASUERUS WAS CANDID
WHEN Orestes had gone, the Jew re-
mained unmoved. He continued to
dabble his finger-tips in the water as
one who meditates. Presently he dried them on
either sleeve so that he seemed to embrace him-
self.
"What instruments we use at need!"
She said: "So you have purchased me, Aha-
suerus ?"
"Ay, for a hundred and two minse. It was a
great sum. You are not as the run of women,
though."
She did not speak. The sun shone, and birds
chaunted merrily to the right hand and to the left.
She was considering the beauty of these gardens
which seemed to sleep under a dome of hard, pol-
ished blue — the beauty of this cloistered Nacu-
THE SOUL OF M E L I C E N T
mera, wherein so many infamies writhed and con-
tended like a nest of little serpents.
"Do you remember that night at Fomor Beach
when you snatched a lantern from my hand?
Your hand touched my hand, Melicent."
She answered : "I remember."
"I first of all saw that it was a woman who
was aiding Perion to escape. I considered Pe-
rion a lucky man, for I had seen the woman's
face."
She remained silent.
"I thought of this woman very often. I
thought of her even more frequently after I had
talked with her at Bellegarde, telling of Perion's
captivity. . . . Melicent," the Jew said, "I make
no songs. My deeds must speak for me. Con-
cede that I have laboured patiently." He paused,
his gaze lifted, and his lips smiled. His eyes
stayed mirthless. "This mad Callistion's hate of
you and of the Demetrios who had abandoned her
was my first stepping-stone. By my advice a tiny
wire was fastened very tightly around the fetlock
of a certain horse, between the foot and the heel,
[178]
AHASUERUS IS CANDID
and the hair was smoothed over it. Demetrios
rode that horse in his last battle. It stumbled, and
our terrible proconsul was thus brought to death.
Callistion managed it. Thus I betrayed Deme-
trios."
She said : "You are too foul for hell to swal-
low." And he manifested indifference to this im-
puted fault.
"Thus far I had gone hand-in-hand with an
insane Callistion. Now our ways parted. She
desired only to be avenged on you, and very
crudely. That did not fall in with my plan. I
fell to bargaining. I purchased — O rarity of
rarities ! — with a little rational advice and much
gold as well. Thus in due season I betrayed
Callistion. Well, who forbids it?"
She said: "God is asleep. Therefore you
live and I — alas ! — must live for a while longer."
"Yes, you must live for a while longer — oh,
and I, too, must live for a while longer !" the Jew
returned. His voice had risen in a curious quav-
ering wail. It was the first time she ever knew
him to display any emotion.
[179]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
But the mood passed, and he said only: "Who
forbids it? In any event, there is a venerable
adage concerning the buttering of parsnips. So
I content myself with asking you to remember
that I have not ever faltered. I shall not falter
now. You loathe me. Who forbids it ? I have
known from the first you detested me, and have
always considered your verdict to err upon the
side of charity. Believe me, you will never loathe
Ahasuerus as I do. And yet I coddle this poor
knave sometimes — oh, as I do to-day !" he said.
And thus they parted.
[180]
IX
HOW PERION SAW MELICENT
THE manner of the torment of Melicent
was this : A little before dawn she was
conducted by Ahasuerus and Orestes to
the outermost turrets of Nacumera, which were
now beginning to take form and colour. Very sud-
denly a flash of light had flooded the valley, the big
crimson sun was instantaneously apparent as
though he had leaped over the bleeding night-
mists. Darkness and all night's adherents were
annihilated. Pelicans and geese and curlews
were in uproar as at a concerted signal. A buz-
zard yelped thrice like a dog, and rose in a long
spiral from the cliff to Melicent's right hand.
He hung motionless, a speck in the clear zenith,
uncannily anticipative. Warmth flooded the val-
ley.
Now Melicent could see the long and narrow
plain beneath her. It was overgrown with a
[181]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
coarse, rippling grass which mimicked rising wa-
ters from this distance, save where clumps of palm
trees showed like islands. Farther off the tents
of the Free Companions were as the white, sharp
teeth of a lion. Also she could see — and did not
recognise — the helmet-covered head of Perion as
he knelt in the wavering grass just out of bow-
shot.
Now Perion could see a woman standing in
the new-born sunlight under many gaily col-
oured banners. The maiden was attired in a robe
of white silk, and about her wrists were heavy
bands of silver. Her hair blazed in the light,
bright as the sunflower glows; her skin was
whiter than milk; the down of a fledgling bird
was not more grateful to the touch than were
her hands. Whoso beheld her was fulfilled with
love. This much could Perion know, whose fond
eyes did not really see the woman upon the battle-
ments but only Dame Melicent as Perion first be-
held her walking by the sea at Bellegarde.
Thus Perion, who knelt in adoration of that
listless girl, all white and silver, and gold, too,
[182]
PERION SEES MELICENT
where her blown hair showed like a halo. De-
sirable and lovelier than words may express
seemed Melicent to Perion as she stood thus in
lonely exaltation, and behind her glorious ban-
ners fluttered and the blue sky took on a deeper
colour. What Perion saw was like a church win-
dow when the sun shines through it. Aha-
suerus perfectly understood the baiting of a trap.
Perion came unarmed into the open plain be-
fore the castle and called on her dear name three
times. Then Perion, thus naked to his enemies,
sang cheerily that waking-song which Melicent
had heard a mimic Amphitryon make in Dame
Alcmena's honour, very long ago, when people
laughed and Melicent was young and ignorant of
misery.
Sang Perion :
"Rei glorios, verais lums e clardatz — "
or, in other wording: "Thou King of glory,
veritable light, all-powerful deity! be pleased to
succour faithfully my fair, sweet friend. The
night that severed us has been long and bitter,
but now the dawn is near at hand. My fair
[183]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
sweet friend, be of good heart! We have been
tormented long enough by evil dreams. Be of
good heart, for the dawn is approaching ! I have
seen the orient star which heralds day. I dis-
cern it clearly, for now the dawn is near at hand."
The song was no great matter; but the splen-
did futility of its performance amid such touch-
and-go surroundings Melicent considered to be
august. And consciousness of his words' pov-
erty, as Perion thus lightly played with death in
order to accord her reverence, was to Dame Meli-
cent in her high martyrdom as is the twist of a
dagger in an already fatal wound ; and made her
love augment.
Sang Perion: "My fair sweet friend, it is I,
your lover, who cry to you, Be of good heart!
Regard the sky and the stars now growing dim,
and you will see that I have been an untiring
sentinel. It will presently fare the worse for
those who do not recognise that the dawn is near
at hand. My fair sweet friend, since you were
taken from me I have not ever been of a divided
mind. I have kept faith, I have not failed you.
[i84]
PERION SEES MELICENT
Hourly I have entreated God and the Son of
Mary to have compassion upon our evil dreams.
And now the dawn is near at hand."
"My poor, bruised, puzzled boy,,, thought
Melicent, as she had done so long ago, "how
came you to be blundering about this miry world
of ours? And how may I be worthy?"
Orestes spoke. His voice disturbed the wom-
an's rapture thinly, like the speech of a ghost,
and she remembered now the bustling world was
her antagonist.
"Assuredly," Orestes said, "this man is crazed.
I will forthwith command my archers to despatch
him in the middle of his caterwauling. For at
this distance they cannot miss him."
But Ahasuerus said: "Nay, seignior, not by
my advice. If you slay this Perion of the Forest,
his retainers will speedily abandon a desperate
siege and retreat to the coast. But they will
never retreat so long as the man lives and sways
them, and we hold Melicent, for, as you plainly
see, this abominable reprobate is quite besotted
with love of her. His death would win you
[185]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
praise; but the destruction of his armament will
purchase you your province. Now in two days
at most our troops will come, and then we will
slay all the Free Companions."
So Orestes was ruled by him, and Perion,
through no merit of his own, departed unharmed.
Then Melicent was conducted to her own apart-
ments; and eunuchs guarded her, while the bat-
tle was, and men she had not ever seen died by
the score because her beauty was so great.
[186]
X
HOW MELICENT CRIED A NEW BARGAIN
NOW about sunset Melicent knelt in her
oratory and laid all her grief before the
Virgin, imploring counsel.
This place was in reality a chapel which Deme-
trios had builded for Melicent in exquisite en-
joyment. To furnish it he had sacked towns she
never heard of, and had rifled two cathedrals,
because the notion that his wife should own a
chapel appeared to him amusing. The Virgin,
a masterpiece of Pietro di Vicenza, he had pur-
chased by the interception of a free city's navy.
It was a painted statue, very handsome.
The sunlight shone on Melicent through a
richly coloured window wherein were shown the
sufferings of Christ and the two thieves. This
siftage made a welter of glowing and intermin-
gling colours all about her, above which her head
shone with a clear halo.
[187]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
This much Ahasuerus noted.
"You offer tears to Mary of Bethlehem. Yon-
der they are sacrificing a bull to Mithras. But
I do not make either offering or prayer to any
god. Yet of all persons in Nacumera I alone am
sure of this day's outcome." Thus spoke the Jew
Ahasuerus.
The woman stood erect now.
"What of the day, Ahasuerus?"
"It has been much like other days that I have
seen. The sun rose without any perturbation.
And now it sinks as usual. Oh, true, there has
been fighting. The sky has been clouded with
arrows, and horses, nicer than their masters, have
screamed because they were appalled by so much
blood. Many women have become widows, and
divers children are made orphans, because of two
huge eyes they never saw. Puf! it is an old
tale."
She said : "Is Perion hurt ?"
"Is the dog quickly hurt that has driven a cat
into a tree? Such I estimate to be the position
of Orestes and Perion. Ah, no, this Perion who
[188]
A BARGAIN IS CRIED
was my captain once is as yet a lord without any
peer in the fields where men contend in battle.
But love has thrust him into a bag's end, and his
fate is certain."
She spoke her steadfast resolution. "And my
fate, too. For when Perion is trapped and slain
I mean to kill myself."
"I am aware of that," he said. "Oh, women
have these notions! Yet at a pinch I think you
would not dare. For I know your beliefs con-
cerning hell's geography, and which particular
gulf of hell is reserved for all self-murderers."
Then Melicent waited for a while. She spoke
without any modulation. "And how should I
fear hell who crave a bitterer fate ! Listen, Aha-
suerus ! I know that you desire me as a plaything
very greatly. The infamy in which you wade
attests as much. Yet you have schemed to no
purpose if Perion dies, because the ways of death
are always open. I would die many times rather
than endure the touch of your finger. Aha-
suerus, I have not any words wherewith to tell
you of my loathing — "
[i89]
THE SOUL OF M E L I C E N T
"Turn then to bargaining," he said, and
seemed aware of all her thoughts.
"Oh, to a hideous bargain. Let Perion be
warned of those troops that will to-morrow out-
flank him. Let him escape. There is yet time.
Do this, O hungry man, and I will live." She
shuddered here. "Yes, I will live and be obedient
in all things to you, my purchaser, until you shall
have wearied of me, or, at the least, until God has
remembered."
His careful eyes were narrowed.
"You would bribe me as you once bribed Deme-
trios? And to the same purpose? I think that
fate excels less in invention than in cruelty."
She bitterly said : "Heaven help me, and what
other wares have I to vend!"
He answered: "None. No woman has in
this black age; and therefore comfort you, my
girl."
She hurried on. "Therefore anew I offer
Melicent, who was a princess once. I cry a price
for red lips and bright eyes and a fair woman's
tender body without any blemish. I have no
[190]
A BARGAIN IS CRIED
longer youth and happiness and honour to afford
you as your toys. These three have long been
strangers to me. Oh, very long ! Yet all I have
I offer for one charitable deed. See now how
near you are to victory. Think now how glori-
ously one honest act would show in you who have
betrayed each overlord you ever served."
He said: "I am suspicious of strange paths.
My plan is fixed. I think I shall not alter it."
"Ah, no, Ahasuerus ! think instead how beau-
tiful I am. There is no comelier animal in all this
big lewd world. Indeed I cannot count how many
men have died because I was a comely animal — "
She smiled as one who is too tired to weep.
"That, too, is an old tale. Now I abate in value,
it appears, and very lamentably. For I am pur-
chasable now just by one honest deed, and there is
none who will barter with me."
He returned: "You forget that a freed Pe-
rion would always have a sonorous word or two
to say in regard to your bargainings. Demetrios
bargained, you may remember. Demetrios was
a dread lord. It cost him daily warfare to retain
[191]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
you. Now I lack swords and castles — I who
dare love you much as Demetrios did — and I
would be able to retain neither Melicent nor,
very possibly, my own existence for an uncon-
scionable while. Ah, no ! I bear my former gen-
eral no grudge. I merely recognise that while
Perion lives he will not ever leave pursuit of you.
I would readily concede the potency of his spurs,
even were there need to look on you a second
time — It happens that there is no need!
Meanwhile I am a quiet man and I abhor dis-
sension. And for the rest, I do not think that
you will kill yourself, and so I think I shall not
alter my fixed plan."
He left her, and Melicent prayed no more. To
what end should she pray when there was no hope
for Perion ?
[192]
XI
HOW THE JEW TOLD ALL HIS PLAN
INTO Melicent's bedroom, about two o'clock
in the morning, came Ahasuerus the Jew.
She sat erect in bed and saw him cowering
over a lamp which his long glistening fingers
shielded, so that the lean face of the man floated
upon a little golden pool in the darkness. She
marvelled that this detestable countenance had
not aged at all since her first sight of it.
He smoothly said : "Now let us talk. I have
loved you for a great while, fair Melicent."
"You have desired me," she replied.
"Faith, I am but as other men. Why, what
the devil ! man may have Javeh's breath in him,
but even Scripture proves that he was made of
clay." He now puffed out his jaws as if in recol-
lection. "You are a handsome piece of flesh, I
thought when I came to you at Bellegarde, tell-
ing of Perion's captivity. I thought no more
[193]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
than this. Because of an odd reason which I
had, I served Demetrios willingly enough. He
paid me well. So I arranged the bungling snare
Demetrios proposed — too gross, I thought it, to
trap any woman living. Ohe, and why should I
not lay an open and frank springe for you ? Who
else was a king's bride-to-be, young, beautiful,
and blessed with wealth and honour and every
other comfort which the world affords?" Now
the Jew made as if to fling away a robe from his
gaunt person. "And you cast this, all this, aside
as nothing. I saw it done."
"Ah, but I did it to save Perion," she wisely
said.
"Unfathomable liar," he returned, "you boldly
bought of life the thing which you most earnestly
desired. Nor Solomon nor Periander has won
more. And thus I saw that which no other man
has seen. I saw the wise and naked soul of Meli-
cent. And so I loved you, and I laid my plan — "
She said : "You do not know of love — "
"Yet I have builded him a temple," the Jew
considered. He continued, with that old abhor-
[194]
THE JEW TELLS ALL
rent acquiescence: "Now, a temple is admira-
ble, but it is not builded until many labourers have
dug and toiled waist-deep in dirt. Here, too,
such spatterment seemed necessary. For you and
Perion — oh, children lost upon a battle-field! I
played, in fine, I played a cunning music. The
high pride of Demetrios, the hatred of Callistion,
and the ambition of Orestes — these were as so
many stops of that flute on which I played a cun-
ning deadly music. Who forbids it?"
She motioned him: "Go on." Now she was
not afraid.
"Come then to the last note. You offer me a
bargain : Save Perion and have my body as your
chattel. I answer Click! The turning of a key
solves all. Accordingly I have betrayed the cas-
tle of Nacumera, I have this night admitted Pe-
rion and his broad-shouldered men. They are
killing Orestes yonder in the Court of Stars even
while I talk with you." Ahasuerus laughed
noiselessly. "Such vanity does not become a
Jew, but I need must do the thing with some
magnificence. Therefore I do not give Sire Pe-
[195]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
rion only his life. I give him also victory and
much throat-cutting and an impregnable rich cas-
tle. Have I not paid the price, fair Melicent?
Have I not won God's masterpiece through a
small wire, a purse, and a big key?"
She answered : "You have paid."
He said: "You will hold to your bargain?
Ah, you have but to cry aloud, and you are rid
of me. For this is Perion's castle."
She said: "Christ help me! You have paid
the price."
Now the Jew raised his two hands in very hor-
rible mirth.
"Oh, I am almost tempted to praise Javeh.
Because of a word said you would arise and fol-
low me on my dark ways if I commanded it. You
will not weight the dice, not even at this pinch,
when it would be so easy! For Perion is safe,
and nothing matters any more. Again I see my
Melicent who is not just a pair of purple eyes and
so much lovely flesh."
His face was as she had not ever known it now,
and very tender.
[i96]
THE JEW TELLS ALL
"My way to victory is plain enough. And yet
there is an obstacle. For I love Melicent and not
that handsome piece of flesh which all men — oh,
and even Perion, I think! — have loved so long
with remarkable infatuation. Accordingly I had
not ever designed that the edifice on which I la-
boured should be the stable of my lusts. Accord-
ingly I played my cunning music — and accord-
ingly I give you Perion. I that am Ahasuerus
win for you all which righteousness and honour
could not win. / give you Perion — He would
still be about his butchery, I think, in the Court of
Stars."
Ahasuerus knelt, kissing her hand.
"Fair Melicent, such abominable persons as
Demetrios and I are fatally alike. We may
deny, deride, deplore, or even hate, the sanctity
of any noble lady accordingly as we elect; but
there is for us no possible escape from worship-
ping it. Your wind-fed Perions, who will not
ever acknowledge what sort of world we live in,
are less quick to recognise the soul of Melicent.
Such is our sorry consolation. Oh, you do not
[197]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
believe me yet. You will believe. Meanwhile,
O all-enduring and all-conquering! go now to
your last labour; and — if my Brother dare con-
cede as much — now conquer even Perion."
Then he vanished. She never saw him any
more.
[198]
XII
HOW PERION FOUND MELlCENT
SHE lifted the Jew's lamp. She bore it
through the Women's Garden, wherein
were many discomfortable shadows and no
living being. She came to its outer entrance.
Men were fighting there. She skirted a hideous
conflict, and descended the Queen's Stairway,
which led (as you have heard) toward the bal-
cony about the Court of Stars. She found this
balcony vacant.
Below her men were fighting. To the farther
end of the court Orestes sprawled upon the red
and yellow slabs — which now for the most part
were red — and above him towered Perion of the
Forest. The conqueror had turned to cleanse his
sword upon the same divan Demetrios had oc-
cupied when Melicent first saw the dead procon-
sul; and midway in the act he perceived the fa-
miliar denizen of all his dreams. A tiny lamp
glowed in her hand quite steadily.
[199]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
"O Melicent," said Perion, with a great voice,
"my task is done. Come now to me."
She instantly obeyed whose only joy was to
please Perion. Descending the enclosed stair-
way, she thought how like its gloom was to the
fleet unhappiness she had passed through in serv-
ing Perion.
He stood a dripping statue, for he had fought
horribly. She came to him, picking her way
among the slain. He trembled who was fresh
from slaying. A flood of torchlight surged and
swirled about them, and within a stone's cast
shouting men killed one another.
These two stood face to face and did not speak
at all.
I think that he knew disappointment first. He
looked to find the girl whom he had left on Fomor
Beach.
He found a woman, the possessor still of a
compelling beauty. Oh, yes, past doubt. She
was a stranger to him, though, as he now knew
[ 200 ]
PERION FINDS MELICENT
with an odd sense of sickness. Thus, then, would
end the quest of Melicent. Their love had
flouted Time and Fate. These had revenged this
insolence, it seemed to Perion, by an ironical con-
version of each rebel into another person. For
this was not the girl whom Perion had loved in
far red-roofed Poictesme ; and he — as Perion for
the first time perceived — was not and never could
be any more the Perion that girl had bidden re-
turn to her. It were as easy to evoke the Perion
who had loved Melusine. . . .
Then Perion perceived that love may be a
power so august as to bedwarf consideration of
the man and woman whom it sways. He saw
that this is reasonable. I cannot justify this
knowledge. I cannot even word just what it was
that Perion was made aware of in this while.
For many men have seen the sunrise, but the
serenity and awe and sweetness of this daily mira-
cle, the huge assurance which it emanates that
the beholder is both impotent and greatly beloved,
is not entirely an affair of the sky's tincture. And
[201]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
thus it was with Perion. He knew what he could
not explain, he knew such joy and terror as he
could not ever word.
Now he saw Melicent for the first time. . . .
I think he saw the lines already forming in her
face, and knew that, but for him, this woman,
naked now of gear and friends, had been to-night
a queen among her own acclaiming people. I
think he worshipped where he did not dare to
love, as every man cannot but do when starkly
fronted by the divine and stupendous unreason
of a woman's choice, among so many other men,
of him. And yet, I think that Perion recalled
what Ayrart de Montors had said of women and
their love, so long ago: — "They are more wise
than we; and always they make us better by in-
domitably believing we are better than in reality
a man can ever be."
I think that Perion knew, now, de Montors had
been in the right. The pity and mystery and
beauty of that world wherein High God had —
scornfully ?— thrust a smug Perion, seemed to the
Comte de la Foret, I think, unbearable. I think
[ 202 ]
PERION FINDS MELICENT
a new and finer love smote Perion as a sword
strikes.
I think he did not speak because there was no
scope for words. I know he knelt (incurious for
once of even victory) before this stranger who
was not the Melicent whom he had sought so
long, and that all consideration of a lost young
Melicent departed from him, as mists leave our
world when the sun rises.
I think that this was her high hour of triumph.
CETERA DESUNT
[203]
AFTERWORD
Thus, rather suddenly, ends our knowledge of
the love-business between Perion and Melicent.
For at this point, as abruptly as it began, the
one existing chronicle of their adventures makes
conclusion, like a bit of interrupted music, and
thereby affords conjecture no inconsiderable
bounds wherein to exercise itself. Yet, since de-
ductions as to what befell these lovers afterward
can at best result in free-handed theorising, it
seems more profitable in this place to speak very
briefly of that fragmentary manuscript, the
Roman de Lusignan, from which the histories of
Melicent and Perion as set forth in this book
claim only to have been retold.
M. Verville, in his monograph on Nicolas de
Caen,1 considers it probable that the Roman de
1 Paul Verville, Notice sur la vie de Nicolas de Caen, p. 112
(Rouen, 1911).
[205]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
Lusignan was printed in Bruges by Colard Man-
sion at about the same time Mansion published
the Dizain des Reines. This is possible ; but until
a copy of the book is discovered, our sole au-
thority for the romance must continue to be the
fragmentary MS. No. 503 in the Allonbian Col-
lection.
Among the innumerable manuscripts in the
British Museum there is perhaps none which
opens a wider field for guesswork. In its en-
tirety the Roman de Lusignan was, if appear-
ances are to be trusted, a leisured and ambitious
handling of the Melusina legend ; but in the pre-
served portion Melusina figures hardly at all.
We have merely the final chapters of what would
seem to have been the first half, or perhaps the
first third, of the complete narrative ; so that this
manuscript account of Melusina's beguilements
breaks off, fantastically, at a period by many
years anterior to a date which those better known
versions of Jean d' Arras and Thuring von Ringol-
tingen select as the only appropriate starting-
point.
[ 206 ]
AFTERWORD
By means of a few elisions, however, the epi-
sodic story of Melicent and of the men who loved
Melicent has been disembedded from what sur-
vives of the main narrative. This episode may
reasonably be considered as complete in itself, in
spite of its precipitous commencement ; we are not
told anything very definite concerning Perion's
earlier relations with Melusina, it is true, but then
they are hardly of any especial importance. And
speculations as to the tale's perplexing chronol-
ogy, or as to the curious treatment of the Aha-
suerus legend, wherein Nicolas so strikingly dif-
fers from his precursors, Matthew Paris and
Philippe Mouskes, or as to the probable course
of latter incidents in the romance (which must
almost inevitably have reached its climax in the
foundation of the house of Lusignan by Perion's
son Raymond and Melusina) are more profitably
left to M. Verville's ingenuity.
One feature, though, of this romance demands
particular comment. The happenings of the
Melicent-episode pivot remarkably upon domnei
[207]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
— upon chivalric love, upon the Frowendienst of
the minnesingers, or upon "lady-worship," as we
might bunglingly translate a word for which in
English there is no precisely equivalent synonym.
But the contemporaries of Nicolas de Caen were
thoroughly conversant with, and industriously be-
lauded, this obsolete, odd form of love — at once
a malady and a religion, quite incommunicably
blended — which they called domnei.
Thus you will find that Dante — to cite only the
most readily accessible of mediaeval amorists —
enlarges as to domnei in both these aspects impar-
tially. Domnei suspends all his senses save that
of sight, makes him turn pale, causes tremors
in his left side, and sends him to bed "like a little
beaten child, in tears"; throughout you have the
manifestations of domnei described in terms be-
fitting the symptoms of a physical disease alone;
but as concerns the other aspect, Dante never
wearies of reiterating that it is domnei which has
turned his thoughts toward God, and with ter-
rible sincerity he beholds in Beatrice de' Bardi.
the highest illumination which Divine Grace may
[208]
AFTERWORD
permit to humankind. "This is no woman;
rather it is one of heaven's most radiant angels,"
he says with terrible sincerity.
With terrible sincerity, let it be repeated; for
the service of domnei was never, as some would
affect to interpret it, a modish and ordered affec-
tation; the histories of Peire de Maenzac, of
Guillaume de Caibestaing, of Geoffrey Rudel, of
Ulrich von Liechtenstein, of the Monk of Pucibot,
of Pons de Capdueilh, and even of Peire Vidal
and Guillaume de Balaun, survive to prove it was
a serious thing, a stark and life-disposing reality.
En cor gentil domnei per mort no passa, as Nico-
las himself declares. The service of domnei in-
volved, it in fact invited, anguish; it was a mar-
tyrdom whereby the lover was uplifted to saint-
ship and the lady to little less than, if anything less
than, godhead.
For it was a canon of domnei, it was the very
essence of domnei, that the woman one loves is
providentially set between her lover's apprehen-
sions and God as the mobile and vital image and
corporeal reminder of heaven, as a quick symbol
[209]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
of beauty and holiness, of purity and perfection.
In her the lover views — embodied, apparent to
human sense, and even accessible to human enter-
prise— all qualities of God which can be compre-
hended by merely human faculties. It is pre-
cisely as such an intermediary that Melicent
figures toward Perion, and, in a somewhat differ-
ing degree, toward Ahasuerus — since Ahasuerus
is of necessity apart in all things from the run of
humanity.
Yet instances were not lacking in the service
of domnei where worship of the symbol devel-
oped into a religion sufficing in itself, and became
competitor with worship of what the symbol pri-
marily represented — such instances as have their
analogues in the legend of Ritter Tannhauser, or
in Aucas sin's resolve in the romance to go down
into hell with "his sweet mistress whom he so
much loves," or (here perhaps most perfectly ex-
ampled) in Arnaud de Mer veil's naive declara-
tion that whatever portion of his heart belongs to
God heaven holds in vassalage to Adelaide de
Beziers. It is upon this darker and rebellious
[210]
AFTERWORD
side of domnei, of a religion pathetically dragged
dustward by the luxuriance and efflorescence of
over-passionate service, that Nicolas has touched
in depicting Demetrios.
Nicolas de Caen, himself the servitor par
amours of Isabella of Burgundy, has elsewhere
written of domnei (in his Le Roi Amaury) in
terms such as it may not be entirely out of place
to transcribe here. Baalzebub, as you may re-
member, has been discomfited in his endeavours
to ensnare King Amaury and is withdrawing in
disgust.
"A pest upon this domnei!" 1 the fiend growls.
"Nay, the match is at an end, and I may speak
in perfect candour now. I swear to you that,
given a man clear-eyed enough to see that a
woman by ordinary is nourished much as he is
nourished, and is subjected to every bodily in-
firmity which he endures and frets beneath, I do
not often bungle matters. But when a fool be-
gins to flounder about the world, dead-drunk with
1 Quoted with minor alterations from Watson's version.
[211]
THE SOUL OF MELICENT
adoration of an immaculate woman — a monster
which, as even the man's own judgment assures
him, does not exist and never will exist — why,
he becomes as unmanageable as any other maniac
when a frenzy is upon him. For then the idiot
hungers after a life so high-pitched that his gross
faculties may not so much as glimpse it; he is so
rapt with impossible dreams that he becomes ob-
livious to the nudgings of his most petted vice;
and he abhors his own innate and perfectly nat-
ural inclination to cowardice, and filth, and self-
deception. He, in fine, affords me and all other
rational people no available handle; and, in con-
sequence, he very often flounders beyond the
reach of my whisperings. There may be other
persons who can inform you why such blatant
folly should thus be the master-word of evil, but
for my own part, I confess to ignorance.''
"Nay, that folly, as you term it, and as hell will
always term it, is alike the riddle and the master-
word of the universe," the old king replies.
And Nicolas whole-heartedly believed that this
[212]
AFTERWORD
was true. We do not believe this, quite, but it
may be that we are none the happier for our
dubiety.
EXPLICIT
[213]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(All printed versions, so far as known,
of the Roman de Lusignan.)
I. Armageddon; or the Great Day of the Lord's
Judgement: a Parcenesis to Prince Henry —
Melicent ; an heroicke poeme intended, drawne
from French bookes, the First Booke, by Sir
William Allonby. London, 1636.
II. Les Amants de Melicent, Traduction moderne,
annotee et procedee d'un notice historique sur
Nicolas de Caen, par l'Abbe * * * Paris, 1788.
III. Perion und Melicent, zum erstenmale aus dem
Franzosischen ins Deutsche iibersetzt, von
J. H. G. Lowe. Stuttgart und Tubingen, 1823.
IV. Los Negociantes do Don Perion, publicado
por Plancher-Seignot. Rio de Janiero, 1827.
The translator's name is not given.
V. La donna di Demetrio, Historia piacevole e
morale, da Antonio Checino. Milan, 1833.
VI. Prindsesses Melicent, oversat af Le Roman de
Lusignan, og udgivna paa Dansk vid R. Knos.
Copenhagen, 1840.
VII. Antique Fabul^e et Comedle, edid. G. Rask.
Gottingen, 1852. Vol. II, p. 61 et seq. "De
Fide Melicentis" — an abridged version of the
romance.
VIII. Perion en Melicent, voor de Nederlandsche
Jeugduiitgegeven door J. M. L. Wolters.
Groningen, 1862.
[215]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
IX. NOUVELLES FrANQOISES EN PROSE DU XIVe ET
du XVe siecle, Les textes anciens, edites et
annotes par MM. Armin et Moland. Lyons,
1880. Vol. IV, p. 89 et seq., "Le Roman de
la Belle Melicent" — an abridgement.
X. The Soul of Melicent, Roman de Lusignan,
by James Branch Cabell. New York, 19 13.
XL Cinq Ballades de Nicolas de Caen, traduites
en verse du Roman de Lusignan, par Mme.
Adolphe Galland, et mises en musique par
Raoul Bidoche. Paris, 1898.
[216]
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